NEW YORK (June 16, 2009)--ABC News is crying foul over a report that says "World News" most likely had its smallest audience ever.

The network has asked Nielsen Media Research to investigate.

The company initially reported that a little more than 4 million people watched "World News" last Friday, the first night of the digital switch over.

Usually, more than 7 million watch the ABC broadcast on Fridays.

ABC says a drop-off from the average could have been expected, especially given the slow summer season, but a disappearance of 3 million people didn't make any sense.

Nielsen Media Research says it is looking into the case.