NBC News' "Today" continues as the dominant morning news program topping competition across the board. Last week's win marks "Today's" 748th consecutive week in first place. Below are the highlights for the week ending March 19.
Highlights:
- TODAY averaged 5 million total viewers, a +21% (+900,000) advantage over GMA's 4.1 million viewers and +97% (+2,450,000) over Early Show's 2.5 million.
- TODAY has now won 748 consecutive weeks in both homes and total viewers.
- In rating A25-54, TODAY had a 1.9 and led GMA's 1.3 by +46% (+6 tenths) and Early Show's 0.8 by +138% (+1.1 ratings points).
- In rating A18-49, TODAY outperformed GMA by +67% (+6 tenths) and Early Show by +150% (+9 tenths).
- Versus the prior week, TODAY increased its deliveries in rating W/A18-49 (+5%/+7%) while also widening its lead over GMA in total viewers and rating W/A18-49.
- TODAY increased the gap over GMA versus the same week last season in rating W/M/A18-49 and rating W/M/A25-54.
- Season-to-date, TODAY is the only morning news program to post any demo increase (up +4% in rating W25-54) and tops second-place GMA by +29% (+1,246,000) in total viewers and +40% (+736,000) in A25-54 (000).
- TODAY has widened its advantages over both GMA and Early Show this season in homes, total viewers, rating W/A18-49, and rating W/A25-54 compared to the same period last season.
TODAY II (9 a.m. hour) & TODAY III (10 a.m. hour) Highlights:
- TODAY II topped CBS Early Show in homes (+21%), total viewers (+21% or +519,000), rating W/A18-49 (+43%/+17%) and rating W/A25-54 (+30%/+13%).
- TODAY II beat The View in rating M18-49 (+33%) and rating M25-54 (+25%).
- Season-to-date, TODAY II is up in total viewers (+3% or +111,000), rating M/A18-49 (+20%/+13%), and rating W25-54 (+7%).
- TODAY III averaged 1.753 million total viewers and a 0.6 A25-54 rating.
- Season-to-date, TODAY III is up in homes (+7%) and total viewers (+7%, or +127,000) while also increasing +1% in A25-54 (000).
On its digital platforms, "Today" continued its strong performance with more than 9.8 million online streams. TODAYshow.com's stories, blog, message boards and live votes were also popular with users.
Jim Bell is the executive producer of "Today" (Monday - Friday, 7-11 a.m.).
