ABC News Takes 1st in Ratings

NEW YORK — ABC’s “World News Tonight” edged into first in a near-dead-heat news ratings race last week, the first time ABC has won in more than a year and the first time it has won in a “non-event” week in 5 1/2 years, according to A. C. Nielsen Co. figures released today.

CBS came in third, even though Dan Rather was the only regular anchor to be on all week. NBC’s Tom Brokaw was on vacation, with Garrick Utley filling in. ABC’s Peter Jennings was on Monday and Tuesday, then went on vacation, and Ted Koppel filled in the rest of the week.