The three evening broadcasts posted week-to-week declines in both total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo for the week of December 8.
ABC World News Tonight continued to be America’s most-watched newscast in both measured categories, finishing as the top-rated broadcast for the 10th year in a row in total viewers.
One interesting tidbit regarding WNT’s dominance, season to date, its lead over CBS Evening News is the largest in total viewers in at least 34 years, since the 1991-1992 season, when Nielsen’s electronic database began.
According to national live+same-day big data plus program ratings from Nielsen, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir averaged 7.867 million total viewers and 1 million Adults 25-54 demo viewers for the week of December 8. The evening newscast was down by -5% in total viewers and -6% in the A25-54 demo compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance for the same week in 2024* (the week beginning December 9), WNT was flat in total viewers but down -8% in the demo.
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas was in second place in total viewers and the demo, averaging 6.432 million and 854,000 viewers, respectively. The broadcast was down -3% in total viewers and -5% in the A25-54 demo. When comparing its performance to the same week a year ago*, Nightly News was up +2% in total viewers but down -4% in the demo—it was the only evening newscast with year-over-year gains in either of the measured categories.
CBS Evening News had 4.152 million total viewers and 528,000 viewers in the demo for the week of December 8. The broadcast was down -5% in total viewers and in the demo compared to the previous week. Its year-ago week numbers* showed the newscast drop by -11% in total viewers and -23% in the demo—the only morning show with double-digit declines within this comparison.
*Please note that year-over-year comparisons are based on Nielsen Big Data+Panel (2025) vs. Panel (2024) measurements.
| ABC | NBC | CBS | |
| • Total Viewers: | 7,867,000 | 6,432,000 | 4,152,000 |
| • A25-54: | 1,000,000 | 854,000 | 528,000 |
Source: Nielsen, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49 National Live + Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings. Current Week (w/o 12/8/25), Previous Week (w/o 12/1/25), and Year-Ago Week (w/o 12/9/24). Season to date: Most Current Data Stream: 2025-2026 Season (9/22 – 12/14/25) and 2024-2025 Season (9/23 – 12/15/24).
