Sep 26, 2017

ABC, CBS and NBC fight for ratings bragging rights

Axios

NBC logo at its headquarters in New York. Photo: Bebeto Matthews / AP

The networks will be out today with their final 2016-17 news ratings, and everyone (says they're) a winner.

ABC: "'World News Tonight with David Muir' won the season for the first time in ... 21 years [1996,] when Peter Jennings was anchor ... The program is the most-watched newscast in America averaging more than 8 million viewers per night."

CBS: "CBS THIS MORNING was the only broadcast morning news program to post year-to-year gains in viewers ... Over the last two broadcast years, CBS THIS MORNING posted its best viewer deliveries for a CBS morning news program since the advent of people meters" in 1987.

NBC: "All four NBC News broadcasts are #1 in the demo most valued by news advertisers for the 2016-2017 broadcast season ... TODAY, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Meet the Press with Chuck Todd and Dateline are ... #1 most-watched broadcasts among the coveted demo of younger viewers," age 18 to 49.

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Coronavirus dashboard

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  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 8 a.m. ET: 1,131,713 — Total deaths: 59,884 — Total recoveries: 233,591 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 8 a.m. ET: 278,458 — Total deaths: 7,159 — Total recoveries: 9,897 — Map.
  3. Public health latest: The CDC is recommending Americans wear face coverings in public to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The federal government will cover the costs of COVID-19 treatment for the uninsured, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said.
  4. 2020 latest: "I think a lot of people cheat with mail-in voting," President Trump said of the 2020 election, as more states hold primaries by mail. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock said Friday that every county in the state opted to expand mail-in voting for the state's June 2 primary.
  5. Business updates: America's small business bailout is off to a bad start. The DOT is urging airlines to refund passengers due to canceled or rescheduled flights, but won't take action against airlines that provide vouchers or credits.
  6. Oil latest: The amount of gas American drivers are consuming dropped to levels not seen in more than 25 years, government data shows. Trump is calling on the Energy Department to find more places to store oil.
  7. Tech updates: Twitter will allow ads containing references to the coronavirus under certain use cases.
  8. U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt: Senators call for independent investigation into firing of Navy captain.
  9. What should I do? Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
  10. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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