Brokaw Edges Rather in Ratings

Tom Brokaw’s “Nightly News” on NBC beat Dan Rather and the “CBS Evening News” in the fourth quarter of the year, the first time NBC had won a quarter in 19 years.

NBC’s average rating in the fourth quarter was 11.8, with a 22% share of the audience. CBS was right behind at 11.6 and a 21%, and ABC’s “World News Tonight” with Peter Jennings averaged 10.6 and a 20% share. NBC’s last such victory was in the second quarter of 1967, when Chet and David were still saying “good night” every night on the Huntley-Brinkley Report.