NBC's Today show was the top rated morning show last week in both Total Viewers and the A25-54 demo. For the sixth week in a row, however, ABC's Good Morning America has cut the gap in the demo, down to 210,000 viewers this week.

On July 18, when GMA had Miley Cyrus on to perform for their Summer Concert Series, GMA beat NBC in the demo.

Today has increased its season-to-date advantage over GMA in both categories.

For the week of July 14:

Total Viewers: NBC: 4,510,000 / ABC: 4,000,000 / CBS: 2,370,000

A25-54 Viewers: NBC: 1,990,000 / ABC: 1,780,000 / CBS: 990,000

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Meet the Press was the most-watched Sunday morning public affairs program last week, in Total Viewers and A25-54 demo.

In the Total Viewers, NBC was first, with ABC 2nd, CBS 3rd and FOX 4th.

In the A25-54 demo, NBC finished first, followed by ABC and CBS tied for second and FOX in fourth.

NBC's Meet the Press had 3,242,000 Total Viewers, ABC's This Week had 2,400,000, CBS' Face the Nation had 2,180,000 and FOX News Sunday had 1,190,000.

NBC's Today show was tops again last week in Total Viewers and the A25-54 demo, but ABC's Good Morning America was the only program up week-to-week in Total Viewers.

In the demo, only CBS' The Early Show saw gains week-to-week.

For those counting at home, this would be week #657 with Today in 1st place.

For the week of July 7:

Total Viewers: NBC: 4,800,000 / ABC: 3,925,000 / CBS: 2,400,000

A25-54 Viewers: NBC: 2,040,000 / ABC: 1,650,000 / CBS: 960,000

Make it 656 weeks in a row for the Today show at #1. But not only is the Matt, Meredith, Al & Ann combo still tops in the morning, it's also growing. The Today show was up 4% in Total Viewers year-over-year last week.

In the A25-54 demo, Good Morning America cut Today's lead by 27% compared to last year.

For the week of June 30:

Total Viewers: NBC: 4,900,000 / ABC: 3,800,000 / CBS: 2,400,000

A25-54 Viewers: NBC: 2,140,000 / ABC: 1,660,000 / CBS: 920,000

In a story that is primarily about the Today show's morning dominance, the NYTimes' Bill Carter also talked with insiders about Today's nearest competitor, Good Morning America and their star anchor Diane Sawyer.

Carter writes, a "network news executive, who has worked with Ms. Sawyer, said she had never gotten over losing out — twice — on the job of ABC evening news anchor, most recently when it went to her former "Good Morning America" co-host, Charles Gibson."

"She is so angry at the company," said the executive, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue inside ABC News. "They didn't give her the job she deserves. They want her to stay in this job because it makes so much money. But to her it's boring, it's repetitive, and it's cheesy to have to do all the things she has to in service of the company."

ABC News president David Westin disputes that assessment. "Hey, I get angry sometimes. But I have never seen Diane Sawyer more committed to the show."

• Related: Q2 2008 Morning Show Ratings...

NBC's Meet the Press saw its best second quarter ratings since 2004 in Total Viewers, and was the top rated Sunday morning show for the 43rd consecutive quarter in the category.

The show has undergone a transformation since the death of its longtime moderator Tim Russert. Last week marked the first for Tom Brokaw as moderator, who fills in through the election.

The program had a decline in viewership from the prior week, when Brian Williams anchored, winning the week with 3,386,000 million viewers (compared to 4,526,000 the week before). It still finished well ahead of second-place Face the Nation (2,505,000), 3rd place This Week (2,181,000) and FOX News Sunday (1,021,000).

For Q2 2008:
• Total viewers:
NBC — 4,126,000 / ABC — 2,563,000 / CBS — 2,500,000 / FNC — 1,320,000

• A25-54 demo:
NBC — 1,200,000 / ABC — 700,000 / CBS — 700,000 / FNC — 500,000

NBC' Today show was the top network morning show in for the second quarter, with a lead of 1.15 million over second place Good Morning America and a 2.9 million lead over The Early Show.

This is the 52nd consecutive quarter Today has been on top.

It was the best second quarter delivery in both Total Viewers and the A25-54 demo for Today in two years.

Good Morning America was the top rated morning show last Saturday, besting NBC's Weekend Today and CBS' The Early Show.

It marks the first time since January 1, 2005 when ABC beat NBC on Saturday, when NBC did not have low coverage.

Just over 300,000 viewers separated first and second place — ABC had 3,080,000 Total Viewers and NBC had 2,770,000 Total Viewers (CBS had 1,730,000). ABC edged out NBC in the A25-54 demo viewers by 150,000.

On Sunday, CBS Sunday Morning won big, with NBC in second place and ABC in third.

> Update: It should be noted that Saturday's Today show was only one hour due to Wimbledon coverage, and in many markets aired out of its normal time slot or didn't air at all (about 93% U.S. coverage.)

NBC's Today show won the morning ratings contest again last week, but ABC's Good Morning America closed the gap in the A25-54 demo for the fourth week in a row.

The only network morning show to post week-to-week gains was CBS' The Early Show, up in both Total Viewers and the demo.

For the week of June 23:

Total Viewers: NBC: 4,920,000 / ABC: 3,850,000 / CBS: 2,460,000

A25-54 Viewers: NBC: 2,200,000 / ABC: 1,720,000 / CBS: 1,050,000

With Brian Williams filling in as moderator, Meet the Press was the number one Sunday morning public affairs show last weekend, with 4,526,000 Total Viewers.

The previous Sunday's Tim Russert tribute show saw 6,412,000 Total Viewers. During last month's May sweep, MTP averaged 4,130,000 Total Viewers.

In the A25-54 demo, NBC finished first, followed by ABC and CBS tied for second and FOX in fourth.

CBS' Face the Nation had 2,581,000 Total Viewers, ABC's This Week had 2,309,000 and FOX News Sunday had 1,191,000.

This Sunday, Tom Brokaw begins his extended temporary moderating duties.