As expected, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir remained No. 1 among all evening newscasts across the board this past week, averaging more than 7.53 million total viewers and 1.06 million A25-54 viewers during the week of July 24, as per Nielsen live plus same day data. WNT’s 7.53 million total average represents a four week-high for the newscast (+1% from the previous from the previous week). However, the 1.06 million A25-54 average is -7% from the previous week.
Versus the comparable week in 2022. the Muir-helmed newscast is down less than -1% in total viewers but a whopping -19% in A25-54 viewers, as linear news continues to lose Americans under 55 on an annual basis.
Despite the mixed trend, with this past week’s performance, ABC’s evening newscast has now defeated its competition from NBC and CBS 243 of the past 244 weeks in average total viewers—and 172 of the last 174 weeks among Adults 25-54. The week of July 24 also marked World News Tonight’s sixth consecutive week as the most watched regularly-scheduled program across U.S. broadcast and cable TV.
Elsewhere on broadcast news, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt averaged 5.95 million total viewers and 945,000 Adults 25-54 for the week of July 24. That represents a +2% gain in total viewers and a solid +6% gain in A25-54 viewers from the week before. The 945,000 average in the demo represents a five-week high for the newscast.
NBC Nightly News shed -4% in total viewers and only -1% in A25-54 viewers from the comparable week in 2022. It was still the second-most-watched regularly-scheduled program across U.S. broadcast and cable TV this past week.
Additionally, according to Adobe Analytics and Partner Portals; YouTube Analytics Portal, full episodes of NBC Nightly News on YouTube reached an average of 1.1 million views and 800,000 viewers last week.
The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell had a rough ratings week, averaging 4.29 million total viewers and 593,000 Adults 25-54 for the week of July 24. That’s -3% in total viewers and -8% in A25-54 viewers from the previous week, -8% in average total viewers and -21% in A25-54 viewers from the year-ago week. It’s worth noting that O’Donnell only anchored Tuesday. Major Garrett guest-anchored Monday, James Brown guest-anchored Wednesday and Thursday. Margaret Brennan guest-anchored Friday.
Nielsen live-plus-same-day averages for the week of July 24, 2023:
| ABC | NBC | CBS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 7,531,000 | 5,951,000 | 4,288,000 |
| • A25-54: | 1,064,000 | 945,000 | 593,000 |
Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 Live + SD Current Week (w/o 7/24/23), Previous Week (w/o 7/17/23) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 7/25/22). Most Current Data Stream: Season 2022-2023 (9/19/22-7/23/23) and Season 2021-2022 (9/20/21-7/24/2023). Live. Nielsen ratings for ABC, NBC and CBS include additional airings in select markets. Beginning 8/31/20, national ratings also include Out of Home (OOH) viewing. Averages based on regular telecasts.