ABC NEWS’ COVERAGE OF POPE FRANCIS’ FUNERAL, LED BY DAVID MUIR FROM THE VATICAN, IS NO. 1 ON ALL BROADCAST AND CABLE ACROSS THE BOARD

ABC News’ “Celebrating Francis: The People’s Pope” (4:08 – 5:59 a.m.) ranked as the No. 1 network for Pope Francis’ funeral coverage in Total Viewers (999,000), Adults 25-54 (228,000) and Adults 18-49 (166,000), based on Live+Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight’ anchor David Muir led comprehensive coverage from the Vatican, joined by “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts, chief international correspondent James Longman, senior national correspondent Terry Moran, foreign correspondent Maggie Rulli, reporter Ines de La Cuetara, WABC-TV Eyewitness News anchor Mike Marza, KABC-TV Eyewitness News anchor David Ono, and contributors Father Jim Martin, Father John Wauck and Helen Alvaré.

• ABC News’ “Celebrating Francis: The People’s Pope” outdelivered the No. 2 network, NBC’s “The Funeral of Pope Francis” (613,000, 116,000 and 86,000, respectively, from 3:55-5:59 a.m.), in Total Viewers (+63%), Adults 25-54 (+97%) and Adults 18-49 (+93%).
• ABC News’ post funeral analysis (1.679 million, 341,000 and 267,000, respectively, from 6:00-7:10 a.m.) more than doubled its closest competitor, NBC (825,000, 138,000 and 98,000, respectively, 6:00-6:57 a.m.), across the board: Total Viewers (+104%), Adults 25-54(+147%) and Adults 18-49 (+172%).

The coverage comes a decade after viewers witnessed ABC News’ first-ever, historic town hall with Pope Francis, conducted by Muir. Muir and the team will be at the Vatican next week to cover the conclave.

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49, Live+Same Day Program Ratings for 4/26/25 or as dated.  Beginning 8/31/20, national ratings also include Out of Home (OOH) viewing.

ABC News Media Relations
Jeannie Kedas | jeannie.kedas@abc.com
Van Scott | van.scott@abc.com