ABC tops weekly news ratings

By Paul J. Gough

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - ABC's "World News With Charles Gibson" was the most-watched evening newscast last week, the second time in three weeks that it has beaten traditional leader "NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams."

It was also the fourth week in a row that ABC was No. 1 in the adults 25-54 demographic, according to data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

"World News" averaged 9.4 million viewers, compared with 9.1 million for "NBC Nightly News" and 6.9 million for "CBS Evening News With Katie Couric." ABC led the demo with a 2.5 rating/9 share in adults 25-54 to NBC's 2.2/8 and CBS's 1.8/7, Nielsen said.

Meanwhile, the Anna Nicole Smith saga helped boost the cable news channels' ratings this month compared with February 2006. Fox News Channel prevailed in both viewership and the adults 25-54 demographic in both total day and primetime and showed increases in each measure and daypart. CNN was up double-digits in viewership and the demo in total day and primetime, as were MSNBC and CNN Headline News.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter