Lookout Brian, Diane is nipping at your heels.​

ABC says that during the first quarter of 2013 “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer” averaged 8.25 million Total Viewers and a 1.8 rating/7 share/2.15 million among Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research. “World News” was up compared to the previous quarter (7.87 million and 2.02 million for 4Q12) and the year-ago quarter (7.89 million and 2.11 million for 1Q12) among both Total Viewers (+5% and +5%, respectively) and Adults 25-54 (+7% and +2%, respectively).  In fact, the ABC evening newscast turned in its strongest quarter performance in 2 years- since 1Q11.

In addition, “World News” posted year-to-year increases in 12 of the 13 weeks of 1Q13 in Total Viewers and in 9 of 13 in Adults 25-54.

“World News” narrowed its year-to-year quarter gaps (1Q12) with “NBC Nightly News” by double-digits among both Total Viewers (-40%, 757,000 vs. 1.26 million) and Adults 25-54(-35%, 281,000 vs. 435,000) – marking its closest first quarter margins with NBC in 5 years– since 1Q08.  

Compared to the previous quarter (4Q12), “World News” decreased its margins with “NBC Nightly News” in Total Viewers (-5% – 757,000 vs. 796,000) and Adults 25-54 (-22% – 281,000 vs. 358,000), delivering its smallest Total Viewers gap with the NBC newscast in 6 quarters – since 3Q11.

For the quarter, “World News” beat the “CBS Evening News” by 1.21 million Total Viewers and by 176,000 Adults 25-54 viewers.