'Nightline' Tops Broadcast Season For First Time

Beats 'Late Show,' 'Tonight Show' in key demos, also wins May sweeps

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/3/2011 3:04:32 PM

ABC's Nightline won the 2010-11 broadcast season and the May sweeps period in late night, beating CBS' Late Show with David Letterman and NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno in total viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49, according to Nielsen.

It is the first time ever that the program placed first in total viewers, A25-54 or A18-49 for a full broadcast season.

It was also the first time that Nightline ranked first in both adult demos during a May sweeps and the first time the newsmagazine beat The Tonight Show in any of the three demos during May sweeps since 1995.

Broadcast season and May sweeps ratings below (note: ABC's ratings are based on a 25-minute broadcast; CBS and NBC's are based on a broadcast that is approximately 50 minutes).

(2010-11 Broadcast Season)

                                       TOTAL VIEWERS   A25-54(000)/ Rtg    A18-49(000)/ Rtg 


ABC Nightline              4,023,000                 1,649,000/ 1.3             1,277,000/ 1.0 


CBS Late Show           3,554,000                 1,548,000/ 1.2             1,151,000/ 0.9


NBC Tonight Show       3,874,000                 1,596,000/ 1.3             1,274,000/ 1.0

 

(May 2011 Sweep)

                                         TOTAL VIEWERS   A25-54(000)/ Rtg    A18-49(000)/ Rtg 


ABC Nightline                4,402,000                  1,761,000/ 1.4             1,361,000/ 1.0 


CBS Late Show             3,489,000                  1,524,000/ 1.2             1,133,000/ 0.9


NBC Tonight Show         3,395,000                  1,650,000/ 1.3             1,321,000/ 1.0