Year Viewership
2007 12,304,000
2008 12,489,000
2009* 11,548,000
2010 11,641,000
2011 11,800,000
2012 11,255,000
2013 11,965,000
2014 12,166,000
2015 11,881,000

* In 2009, local television audiences were measured in March rather than February because of the scheduled transition to digital television.
Therefore, the 2009 average includes March instead of the traditional February sweep.
Note: Numbers represent ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC affiliates for the four sweeps – February, May, July and November.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Nielsen Media Research, used under license.
“State of the News Media 2016”