Pew: Evening Newscasts Losing Younger And Older Viewers

Network news is losing regular viewers at both ends of the age spectrum, according to the latest Pew news consumption survey: “Only about one-in-ten Americans (9%) under age 30 say they regularly tune into the nightly network news on CBS, ABC, or NBC;” that’s a significant drop from the 18 percent who said they watched in 2004 (and 19 percent in 2002).

In addition, “roughly four-in-ten of those ages 65 and older say they regularly watch one of the nightly network broadcasts (43%). In 2004 and 2002 (and in previous Pew surveys dating to 1993), solid majorities of seniors tuned into an evening news program. A decade ago, fully 64% of respondents ages 65 and older said they watched one of these programs.”

24 percent of 30 to 49 year olds said they watched regularly (down from 26 percent in 2004) and 38 percent of 50 to 64 year olds said the same (down from 43 percent in 2004). More…