FIRST OPENING WEEK VICTORY IN TWO DECADES
Based on the Live Plus Same Day ratings for the week of Sept. 24, Good Morning America on ABC opened the current TV season No. 1 in total viewers (4.96 million) for the first time in 20 years, and tops among adults 25-54 (1.94 million) for the first time in 21 years, according to Nielsen. Comparably, this was an increase of two percent and four percent, respectively, from opening week in 2011-12, with an advantage over The Today Show on NBC (Viewers: 4.15 million; A18-49: 1.68 million) of 20 percent in total viewers and 15 percent in the demo. GMA, in addition, rose to its most-watched premiere week in seven years and strongest in adults 25-54 in five years, while Today year-to-year dropped by 21 percent in total viewers and 28 percent in adults 25-54.
Third overall was CBS This Morning with 2.53 million viewers (+ 3 from the year-ago premiere week) and 932,000 adults 25-54 (- 4 percent).
GMA also won the month of September 2012 in both measures, with an advantage over The Today Show of 19 percent in total viewers (5.10 vs. 4.29 million) and 10 percent in the demo (1.92 vs. 1.75 million). Comparably, that was GMA’s first monthly win in the demo in 18 years.
The moral of the story: NBC, apparently, did not learn from the now classic Jane Pauley fiasco.
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