ABC News’ ‘Nightline’ Delivers Its Largest Overall Audience in 6 Weeks and Strongest Key Adult Performances in 2 Months for the Week of Jan. 14

Jan. 23, 2019 

Ratings Report: ABC News’ “Nightline”

For Week of Jan. 14, 2019  

‘Nightline’ Delivers Its Largest Overall Audience in 6 Weeks and Strongest Key Adult Performances in 2 Months for the Week of Jan. 14

‘Nightline’ Improves Across the Board for the 2^nd Week in a Row

‘Nightline’ Slashes Its Week-to-Week and Year-Over-Year Gaps in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Against NBC’s ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’

Season to Date, ‘Nightline’ Is Posting Its Largest Lead Over CBS’ ‘The Late Late Show with James Corden’ in Adults 25–54 and Adults 18–49 in 3 Years 

Left: Cyntoia Brown’s journey from convicted murderer to victims’ advocate has been documented since she was first arrested at 16 for murdering a real estate agent she claimed solicited her for sex – story aired Jan. 16.

Right: Capt. Chelsey Sullenberger reunites with passengers on the 10^th anniversary of the flight’s emergency landing in the Hudson River – story aired Jan. 15.

Photo credit: ABC News/Nightline* 

ABC News’ “Nightline” averaged 1.254 million Total Viewers, 458,000 Adults 25-54 and 340,000 Adults 18-49 during the week of Jan. 14, 2019, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “Nightline” beat NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (1.240 million) by 14,000 Total Viewers. In addition, “Nightline” outdelivered CBS’ “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (392,000 and 288,000, respectively) in Adults 25-54 (+66,000) and Adults 18-49 (+52,000).

For the 2^nd week in a row, “Nightline” increased over the previous week (1.236 million, 434,000 and 332,000, respectively, for w/o 1/7/19) across the board: Total Viewers (+1%), Adults 25-54 (+6%) and Adults 18-49 (+2%). “Nightline” saw its largest overall audience in 6 weeks and turned in its strongest key adult performances in 2 months – since weeks of 12/3/18 and 11/12/18, respectively. 

“Nightline” narrowed its margins week to week (w/o 1/7/19) with NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in Adults 25-54 (-38% – 24,000 vs. 39,000) and Adults 18-49 (-9% – 20,000 vs. 22,000). 

“Nightline” slashed its year-to-year gaps (w/o 1/15/18) with NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in Adults 25-54 (-68% – 24,000 vs. 76,000) and Adults 18-49 (-73% – 20,000 vs. 75,000).

Season to date, “Nightline” is leading CBS’ “The Late Late Show with James Corden” in Adults 25–54 (+36,000 – 459,000 vs. 423,000) and Adults 18–49 (+24,000 – 339,000 vs. 315,000), posting its largest leads in 3 years – since the 2015-16 season.

Stories reported on Nightline last week included Cyntoia Brown’s journey from convicted murderer to victims’ advocate, new details that emerged in the Jayme Closs case, childhood abduction survivor Alicia Kozakiewicz opening up about her story of recovery, an examination of how Gillette and other brands use ads to tap into social movements, Capt. Chesley Sullenberger reuniting with passengers on the 10^th anniversary of the “Miracle on the Hudson,” a look at what investigators could learn from the recovered Lion Air black box and a profile on YouTube sensation “The Slow Mo Guys.”

ABC News’ “Nightline” is anchored by Dan Harris, Juju Chang and Byron Pitts. Steven Baker is executive producer. The program airs weeknights, from 12:35-1:05 a.m. EST, on The ABC Television Network. Together with “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Nightline” is part of ABC’s winning late-night strategy of airing news and entertainment programming.

Week of Jan. 14, 2019:

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

ABC’s “Nightline”                                  1,254,000              458,000/0.4            340,000/0.3

CBS’ “The Late Late Show”                    1,279,000              392,000/0.3            288,000/0.2

NBC’s “Late Night”                                 1,240,000              482,000/0.4            360,000/0.3

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD, 2017-18 Current Week (w/o 1/14/19), Previous Week (w/o 1/7/19) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 1/15/18). Season to date: Most Current: 2018–2019 Season (9/24/18–1/20/19) and 2017–2018 Season (9/25/18–1/21/18). Averages based on regular telecasts. “Nightline” premiered in its new time period in January 2013. “Seth Meyers” premiered in February 2014. “James Corden” premiered in March 2015.