• by David Kaplan , December 29, 2004

Either Tom Brokaw's got substantial coattails or viewers seem to like that Brian Williams fella after all, because according to Nielsen Media Research, "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" was the No. 1 network evening newscast, winning the fourth quarter 2004 in all categories.

For the quarter, "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" averaged 10.407 million total viewers--13 percent more than ABC's "World News Tonight," with 9.209 million, and 45 more than "CBS Evening News," with 7.213 million. "Nightly News" has now won the last 21 quarters among total viewers.

In homes, the NBC news broadcast posted a 7.3 rating and a 14 share. ABC followed with a 6.4/13, and CBS had a 5.1/10.

Among women, men, and adults ages 25-54, "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" was No. 1 in each category. Specifically, among adults ages 25-54, NBC had a 2.8 rating--an 8 percent lead over ABC's 2.6, and a 40 percent advantage over CBS' 2.0 rating. "Nightly" has now placed first for 32 quarters (two ties) among adults ages 25-54.

For the week of December 20-24, "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" was also the most-watched network evening newscast, attracting 10.630 million viewers. ABC trailed with 10.320 million, and CBS had 7.947 million. The NBC newscast has now placed first for 25 consecutive weeks and for 90 of the last 96 weeks.

"Season-to-date versus last season, 'Nightly News' is the only one of the three evening newscasts to maintain its audience, while ABC declined 5 percent and CBS was off 9 percent," an NBC spokesman said. "The NBC broadcast is now outperforming ABC by 13 percent--up 1,198,000--among total viewers compared to the same period last season, when 'Nightly''s advantage was just 8 percent--up just 708,000."