Backing Up Peacock

The ratings news at NBC is going from bad to worse. So, is NBC News boss Deborah Turness going to get whacked?

The Today Show and Meet The Press and Sunday news have over the last few years lost their No. 1 ratings spots — and now what was the last remaining ratings champ, “Nightly News with Brian Williams,” is showing a serious fissure.

For the first time in five years, “Nightly News” lost in all demographics to ABC’s “World News with David Muir,”according to Nielsen numbers for the latest week.

In September, “World News” attracted 2.2 million viewers, compared with 1.9 million for “Nightly,” in the 25- to 54-year-old demographic advertisers care about.

Over the 12 months ended Sept. 30, “World News” saw ratings in that key demo jump 16 percent while “Nightly News” ratings tumbled 18 percent.

The slide is turning up the heat on NBC News boss Deborah Turness, who has been on the hot seat since her arrival in August 2013. NBC News Chairwoman Patricia Fili-Krushel drafted the 47-year-old British import to lead the news division in a more profitable direction.

While NBC critics are wondering whether Turness’ days are numbered, sources close to NBC News say she has the support of her bosses and that the network is sticking to its quality mandate.

Despite its ratings decline, “Today” is expected to bring in record profits this year. The profits, sources said, are, in part, the result of Turness’ embrace of sponsored segments.

And let's be honest, the networks care a lot more about profits, than they do ratings. 

H/T NY Post