'Good Morning America' Narrows Gap with 'Today'; Smallest Margin since Week of Sept. 30, 1996 -- Difference of Only 540,000 Total Viewers
Thu Feb 27 2003 14:36:22 ET
�Good Morning America� closed in on NBC�s �Today� with a record difference of only 540,000 Total Viewers, according to the latest Nielsen ratings -- the narrowest gap since Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson assumed hosting duties. Not since the week of September 30, 1996 has the difference in Total Viewers between ABC and NBC been this close in Early Morning.
With an average audience of 5.88 million, �Good Morning America� attracted its biggest audience since the week of January 17, 1994. The program also had its strongest performance among Adults 25-54 (2.8 million) since that same week over nine years ago. �Good Morning America� was up 28% among Total Viewers and increased 30% among Adults 25-54, while �Today� fell 5% in both categories. In fact, �GMA� surpassed �Today� in both Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 on Thursday, the day after the finale of �The Bachelorette.�
For the first quarter-to-date, ABC News �Nightline� is the only late night program to make gains among Adults 25-54 (ABC +7%, CBS -7%, NBC -8%). �Nightline� increased 29% among Total Viewers and 31% among Adults 25-54 compared to the same week last year.
EARLY MORNING (Week of February 17 � February 23)
TOTAL VIEWERS ADULTS 25-54
NBC �TODAY SHOW� 6,420,000 NBC 2.7/18
ABC �GOOD MORNING AMERICA� 5,880,000 ABC 2.3/15
CBS �EARLY SHOW� 3,310,000 CBS 1.2/8
LATE NIGHT (Week of February 17 � February 23)
TOTAL VIEWERS
NBC �TONIGHT SHOW� 7,170,000
CBS �LATE SHOW� 5,500,000
ABC �NIGHTLINE� 4,650,000
ADULTS 25-54 ADULTS 18-49
NBC �TONIGHT SHOW� 3.1/12 NBC 2.6/11
CBS �LATE SHOW� 1.9/7 CBS 1.6/7
ABC �NIGHTLINE� 2.4/9 ABC 2.0/8
Note: All numbers reflect the 11:35 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. time period.
SUNDAY DISCUSSION (Week of February 17 � February 23)
TOTAL VIEWERS ADULTS 25-54
NBC �MEET THE PRESS� 4,900,000 NBC 1.6/8
CBS �FACE THE NATION� 3,880,000 CBS 1.4/7
ABC �THIS WEEK� 2,550,000 ABC 0.9/4
Source: NTI, week of 02/17-02/23
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