Jennings’ death boosts viewership

ABC’s “World News Tonight” topped the evening news ratings for the first time in more than a year -- the increased viewership amounting to yet another tribute to Peter Jennings.

The longtime ABC News anchorman died of lung cancer Aug. 7. The following day’s “World News Tonight,” largely devoted to Jennings’ legacy, was seen by 10.5 million viewers, according to figures released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. The broadcast hasn’t had that many viewers in August since 1998.

“World News Tonight” won each night last week except Wednesday, Nielsen said.

Although it generally runs a close second, the ABC news show hasn’t been the most popular broadcast for any week since June 2004, when Jennings still competed against NBC’s Tom Brokaw and CBS’ Dan Rather.

ABC’s two-hour prime-time tribute to Jennings last Wednesday was seen by 9.4 million people. That would have put the program in Nielsen’s Top 10 for the week, but the company doesn’t rank shows that air without commercials.