'Today' hits record height
Ayem leader up 10% households, 13% viewers
The ayem leader, which has placed first in total viewers for 22 consecutive quarters, posted a 5.6 rating/22 share for the quarter (Oct. 2.-Dec. 31, 2000) with an average audience of 6.7 million -- up 10% in households and 13% in viewers compared to the fourth quarter a year ago (Sept. 27-Dec. 26, 1999).
Best score since 1995
ABC News' "Good Morning America" posted a 3.9/15 for the quarter with an average audience of 4.5 million for its most watched frame since fourth quarter 1995.
Still a distant third, CBS News' "The Early Show" posted a 2.1/8 with an average of 2.4 million viewers for the quarter, its lowest rated fourth quarter in five years.
Meanwhile, the third hour of "Today" posted a 3.4/13 with an average of 3.9 million total viewers, up 62% in rating and 68% in total viewers since the fourth quarter a year earlier, when "Later Today" was still on the air.
Peacock 'Press' pumped
In the Sunday morning public affairs battle, NBC's "Meet the Press" wrapped the fourth quarter in first place in total viewers, homes and all of the key news demos. With a 3.9 rating/13 share and an average of 4.7 million viewers for the quarter, "Meet the Press" had its highest rated fourth quarter since the start of people meters in September 1987. ABC's "This Week" trailed with a 2.7/8 (3.3 million total viewers), and CBS' "Face the Nation" posted a 2.5/8 (3.1 million total viewers).
In the key news demo of adults 25-54, "Meet the Press" posted a 1.8, its highest rating since the start of people meters. ABC followed with a 1.2, while CBS had a 1.1.
