Press release - Ratings
December 22, 2025
ABC NEWS’ ‘NIGHTLINE’ RANKS NO. 1 IN ALL KEY DEMOS
‘Nightline’ Grows Year to Year in Total Viewers for 2nd Consecutive Week, Posts Double-Digit Gains Week to Week and Delivers Its Best Numbers Across the Board in Over Two Months
‘Nightline’ Beats NBC’s ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’ Across the Board During the 4th Quarter
Season to Date, ‘Nightline’ Leads ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ Across the Board, Beating the NBC Program in Both Key Adult Demos for the 3rd Consecutive Season
Week of Dec. 22, 2025
ABC News’ “Nightline” ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers (1.087 million), Adults 25-54(208,000) and Adults 18-49 (148,000) for the week of Dec. 22, 2025, based on Live+SameDay Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research, leading NBC’s “Seth Meyers” across the board.
- “Nightline” posted double-digit gains week to week in Total Viewers (+14% – 1.087 million vs. 954,000), Adults 25-54 (+25% – 208,000 vs. 167,000) and Adults 18-49 (+13% – 148,000 vs. 131,000). “Nightline” delivered its best numbers in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 since September and strongest performance in Adults 25-54 since October — since weeks of 9/22/25, 9/29/25 and 10/6/25, respectively.
- For the 2nd week in a row, “Nightline” grew year to year in Total Viewers (+11% – 1.087 million vs. 975,000).
- Season to date, “Nightline” (1.008 million, 191,000 and 134,000, respectively) leads NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (975,000, 187,000 and 130,000, respectively) in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49. In fact, “Nightline” is ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the 3rd straight year.
- This week, “Nightline” covered the 20th anniversary of The Elf on the Shelf; “Silent Night, Deadly Night” star Rohan Campbell discussing the rise of holiday horror films; Morgan Geyser heading back to a state mental institute after escaping; global celebrations for Jane Austen’s 250th birthday and more.
NOTE: On Wednesday (12/24/25) and Friday (12/26/25), ABC’s “Nightline” was coded as a special and preempted on Thursday (12/25/25). The specialed telecasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages. NBC’s “Seth Meyers” was preempted on Wednesday and retitled the rest of the week to Seth Meyers-SM.” ABC’s weekly averages are based on two days (Monday and Tuesday), while NBC’s weekly averages are based on four days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday).
4th Quarter 2025
ABC News’ “Nightline” averaged 1.008 million Total Viewers, 191,000 Adults 25-54 and 134,000 Adults 18-49 during the 4th Quarter 2025, based on Most Current Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.
- “Nightline” beat NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (975,000, 187,000 and 130,000, respectively) across the board during the 4th In fact, “Nightline” led the NBC program in both key Adult demos during a 4th Quarter for the third straight year — since 4Q23.
- “Nightline” turned in double-digit increases from the previous quarter across the board: Total Viewers (+35% – 1.008 million vs. 746,000), Adults 25-54 (+48% – 191,000 vs. 129,000) and Adults 18-49 (+60% – 134,000 vs. 184,000).
ABC News’ “Nightline” is late-night television’s prestigious, award-winning news program featuring the most powerful, in-depth stories that shape our lives and the world around us. It is anchored by Juju Chang and Byron Pitts. Eman Varoqua is executive producer. The program airs weeknights from 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET on ABC. “Nightline” has also produced numerous original documentaries available on ABC News’ digital platforms, Disney+ and Hulu.
WEEK OF DEC. 22, 2025:
| PROGRAM AVERAGES | TOTAL VIEWERS | A25-54(000)/RTG | A18-49(000)/RTG |
| ABC’s “Nightline” | 1,087,000 | 208,000/0.1 | 148,000/0.1 |
| NBC’s “Late Night” | 595,000 | 123,000/0.1 | 85,000/0.1 |
4th QUARTER 2025:
| PROGRAM AVERAGES | TOTAL VIEWERS | A25-54(000)/RTG | A18-49(000)/RTG |
| ABC’s “Nightline” | 1,008,000 | 191,000/0.1 | 134,000/0.1 |
| NBC’s “Late Night” | 975,000 | 187,000/0.1 | 130,000/0.1 |
Source: Nielsen, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 National Live + Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings. Current Week (w/o 12/22/25), Previous Week (w/o 12/15/25) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 12/23/24). Season to date: Most Current Data Stream: 2025-2026 Season (9/22 – 12/28/25) and 2024-2025 Season (9/23 – 12/29/24). Live+7/Most Current: 4Q25: 9/22/25 – 12/28/25, 3Q25: 6/30 – 9/21/25 and 4Q24: 9/23/24 – 12/39/24, Beginning 12/26/22, averages are based on Big Data Plus Panel ratings. Beginning 8/31/20, national ratings also include Out of Home (OOH) viewing. Averages based on regular telecasts.
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