ABC and NBC split the evening news ratings race for the week of Dec. 2.
World News Tonight with David Muir averaged the largest total audience for the week, and has averaged the largest total audience all 11 weeks of the season and the last 54 weeks overall.
On Monday, Dec. 2, ABC’s flagship newscast turned in its most-watched telecast (9.6 million) in 9 months – since March 4.
Season to date, World News Tonight (8.6 million) ranks No. 1 in total viewers at this point of the season for the 4th consecutive year. In fact, the newscast is more than doubling its total viewer lead over NBC from last season (+52%).
It’s worth keeping in mind, however, that World News Tonight was only Nielsen-rated for 4 days last week (Mon-Thurs) due to the Pac-12 championship game on Friday.
Nightly News with Lester Holt won every Nielsen-rated night last week in the key A25-54 demo, including the 4 it went head to head against ABC and all 5 vs. CBS. NBC’s flagship newscast is No. 1 by a comfortable margin among A25-54 this calendar year (+6,000). However, only +1,000 A25-54 viewers separate NBC and ABC during the 2019-2020 broadcast season to-date.
The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell launched from Washington D.C. on Monday, Dec. 2. The program got off to a good start in its new home, ratings-wise, before dropping off significantly later in the week.
Compared with the same week in 2018, ABC posted +2% total viewer growth but was -3% in the key A25-54 demo. NBC was -4% in total viewers and -6% among adults 25-54. CBS was -8% in total viewers and -14% in the A25-54 demo. This year-over-year fall for CBS is a bit surprising considering Monday’s telecast was the most-watched since the newscast’s July 2019 launch.
The averages for the week of Dec. 2, 2019:
| Network | ABC | NBC | CBS |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 9,027,000 | 8,244,000 | 5,850,000 |
| • A25-54: | 1,742,000 | 1,748,000 | 1,114,000 |
Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 Live + SD Current Week (w/o 12/2/19), and Year-Ago Week (w/o 12/3/18). Most Current: 2019–2020 Season (9/23 – 12/8/19) and 2018–2019 Season (9/24 – 12/9/18). Nielsen ratings for ABC, NBC and CBS include additional airings in select markets. Averages based on regular telecasts.
Note: Nightly News, World News Tonight and CBS Evening News’ ratings are comprised of telecasts with regular titling and include overnight airings on owned stations. World News Tonight’s ratings also include 3:30pm airings in Los Angeles and San Francisco. World News Tonight was rated for 4 days this past week.