The longest running show on television, NBC’s Meet the Press won the first quarter of 2019 across the board, marking its 5th consecutive quarter at No.1.
Averaging 3.73 million total viewers, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, the Chuck Todd-moderated program outperformed its competition by double-digits: +22 percent (+671,000) more than ABC and +10 percent (+326,000) more than CBS Sunday show competition. MTP has beaten ABC in total viewers for 15 consecutive quarters.
The NBC Sunday show also topped its competition by double-digits in the key demo with an average of 940,000 A25-54 viewers: +29 percent (+210,000) more than ABC and +26 percent (+194,000) more than CBS. This is MTP’s 13th consecutive quarter win in the key demo.
On a down note, the program posted audience losses relative to Q1 2018 (although as you’ll notice, MTP wasn’t the only one). MTP was -4 percent in total viewers, and -15 percent among adults 25-54 vs. the prior Q1.
CBS Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan finished in second place across the board. However, the program was -4 percent in total viewers, and -5 percent in A25-54 viewers vs. Q1 of last year.
ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos was -2 percent in total viewers, but -14 percent among adults 25-54 vs. Q1 2018.
Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace on Fox Broadcasting averaged 1.4 million total viewers and 407,000 A25-54 viewers in Q1 2018. That’s -2 percent in total viewers and -12 percent in A25-54 vs. what it hauled in Q1 2018.
The network’s cable replays delivered a combined 2.31 million viewers and 383,000 A25-54 viewers. Altogether, that’s 3.75 million total viewers and 790,000 A25-54 viewers.
Q1 2019 Sunday Public Affairs Show Nielsen Ratings:
| Network | Program | Total Viewers | A25-54 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBC | Meet the Press | 3,729,000 | 940,000 |
| CBS | Face the Nation (1/2 hr) | 3,403,000 | 746,000 |
| ABC | This Week | 3,058,000 | 730,000 |
| FOX | Fox News Sunday | 1,444,000 | 407,000 |
On March 31, MTP earned its the title of “most-watched Sunday public affairs show” for the 8th consecutive week. The program was also No. 1 among adults 25-54 for the 61st consecutive broadcast. MTP beat its ABC competition in total viewers by +17 percent (+477,000) and beat CBS in total viewers by +9 percent (+266,000). That marks the show’s 41st consecutive win over ABC in total viewers, and 18th win over Face the Nation out of the past 19 broadcasts.
An additional 746,000 total viewers and 156,000 A25-54 viewers watched the show via re-runs on NBC and MSNBC. Altogether, that’s 3,992,000 viewers and 920,000 A25-54 viewers.
CBS’ Face the Nation ranked No. 2 across the board, while ABC’s This Week ranked No. 3 across the board.
Fox News Sunday on Fox Broadcasting posted +10 percent year-over-year growth in total viewers. The first-run broadcast averaged 1.36 million total viewers and 365,000 demo viewers, the cable replays delivered a combined 2.87 million total viewers and 422,000 A25-54 viewers. Altogether, that’s 4.05 million total viewers and 787,000 demo viewers on March 31.
March 31 Sunday Public Affairs Show Nielsen Ratings:
| Network | Program | Total Viewers | A25-54 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBC | Meet the Press | 3,246,000 | 764,000 |
| CBS | Face The Nation (1/2 hr) | 2,981,000 | 676,000 |
| ABC | This Week | 2,769,000 | 625,000 |
| FOX | Fox News Sunday | 1,362,000 | 365,000 |