Despite recent ratings wins by ABC, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams was still the most watched network evening newscast in the 2006/2007 television season, NBC says in a press release today.

NBC is using the primetime season measurement of September through May.

> Update: 2:50pm: An ABC spokesperson responds: "Unlike the Primetime season that runs from September to May, the news season is 12 months long, since the evening newscasts are original programs every night. If the season ended last Wednesday, how do we account for this week's broadcasts and the next 3 1/2 months?"

Nightly News topped World News by 166,000 viewers over the course of the September to May season. CBS was a distant third with 7.1 million viewers.

"Nightly News has now been the top-rated network evening newscast for 11 straight seasons," NBC says.

The data doesn't show ABC's recent gains. From Jan. 1 to present, World News has topped NBC in total viewers and the demo.

From Sept. 18, 2006 to May 25, 2007:

Total viewers: NBC: 8,834,000 / ABC: 8,668,000 / CBS: 7,159,000

Homes: NBC: 6.1/12 / ABC: 6.0/12 / CBS: 5.0/10

25-54 rating: NBC: 2.2 / ABC: 2.2 / CBS: 1.9

25-54 demo: NBC: 2,753,000 / ABC: 2,750,000 / CBS: 2,307,000

> Update: 2:47pm: "How can NBC send a press release proclaiming its newscast #1 for the 06-07 season? Who has ever talked about the evening news being part of TV season?," an e-mailer asks. "The news ratings that matter are today... and right now, it's ABC on top and has been for several months."