ABC 7 Evening News D.C.'s Choice Among Adults 25-54

ABC 7 Evening News D.C.'s Choice Among Adults 25-54

#1 5-7pm in Key Demos

ARLINGTON, Va., May 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following the most recent 4-week television "sweeps" period, ABC 7/WJLA-TV's 5-7pm news block is #1 among the advertiser-coveted ADULTS 25-54 key demographic. From ABC 7 News at 5 with Leon Harris, Maureen Bunyan and Alison Starling, through ABC 7 News at 6 with Gordon Peterson and Maureen Bunyan, and into ABC's World News with Charles Gibson at 6:30, ABC 7 is now the Washington area's new choice for local and national evening news.

"Our team works extremely hard gathering and reporting news important to our communities, and we're pleased to see those efforts pay off in viewers," said Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., President and General Manager of ABC 7/WJLA-TV. "We're also glad to see more and more Washingtonians turning to Charlie Gibson at 6:30, instead of waiting until 7 for their national news," he said.

"This strong May Sweeps performance is just another example of our station's progress," said Bill Lord, ABC 7's Executive VP of News. "We are improving in both the morning and evening newscasts and the results are very encouraging."

ABC 7's viewership growth in Adults 25-54 comes at the expense of longtime market leader WRC-TV, which lost 11% of its viewership in the key demo, while ABC 7 grew 18% year-to-year.

ABC 7 News also experienced tremendous successes in other areas, including:

   -- Good Morning Washington at 6am with Doug McKelway and Alison Starling        -- 23% growth in HHs -- only 6am local newscast to experience HH           growth year-to-year.    -- ABC 7 News at 5 with Leon Harris, Maureen Bunyan and Alison Starling        -- #1 among A2554, A1849, W2554, W1849, M1849        -- More W1849 than NBC 4, FOX 5 and WUSA 9 combined!    -- ABC 7 News at 6 with Gordon Peterson and Maureen Bunyan        -- #1 among A1849, M2554, M1849        -- 16% growth in HHs -- only 6-6:30pm local newscast to experience HH           growth year-to-year.    -- 6-7pm News Block - ABC 7 News at 6 & World News with Charles Gibson        -- #1 among A2554, A1849, W1849, M2554, M1849        -- 30% growth in HH Shares -- only 6-7pm local news block to           experience HH Share growth year-to-year.   

ABC7/WJLA-TV is a division of Arlington, VA-based Allbritton Communications Company. Allbritton Communications owns and operates eight television stations in seven broadcast markets in Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, DC. It also owns and operates News Channel 8, a 24-hour cable news channel, which shares facilities with ABC7/WJLA-TV.

Source: NSI May07 LPM M-F 5P-7P time period average.

** FOX 5 airs news at 5pm, but then airs Seinfeld and The Simpsons at 6 and 6:30, respectively.

Source: ABC 7/WJLA

CONTACT: Kathryn McGriff of ABC7/WJLA, +1-703-236-9322

Web site: http://www.wjla.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment