The fourth of July holiday taking place on a Monday this year influenced the evening news ratings for this past week. ABC, NBC and CBS all saw significant year-over-year viewership declines (July 4 was on a Sunday in 2021). NBC and CBS actually saw growth in Total Viewers from the previous week, whereas top-ranked ABC shed viewers in multiple measurements.
According to live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen, World News Tonight with David Muir averaged 7.04 million total viewers and 1.13 million adults 25-54, making it top-rated show on U.S. TV—excluding syndication—in total viewers and among adults 25-54. Additionally, ABC’s evening newscast has now defeated its competition from NBC and CBS 188 of the past 189 weeks in average total viewers—and 117 of the last 119 weeks among adults 25-54.
World News Tonight remains No. 1, but saw the most significant audience losses from comparable weeks. The newscast shed -4% in total viewers and -9% from the adults 25-54 demo vs. the previous week (June 27). WNT also lost -16% in total viewers and -33% among adults 25-54 from the same week in 2021 (July 5). World News Tonight only counted one day of ratings during the week of July 5, 2021, whereas the network counted four of five days this year. This might explain (at least partially) why World News Tonight’s year-over-year losses are more significant than its rivals’.
Lester Holt anchored NBC Nightly News last week from Highland Park, Ill. Nightly News delivers its closest viewer gap with ABC since December of last year, averaging 6.25 million total viewers on the linear network, which +1% from the week before. The 6.25 million total viewer average places the broadcast at No. 2 on U.S. TV, excluding specials, sports and syndication. That said, the newscast did shed -4% from the comparable week in 2021. Additionally, NBC Nightly News averaged 960,000 adults 25-54 this past week, which is -8% from what Nightly averaged in the demo the previous week—and down -20% from the comparable week in 2021.
Additionally, on YouTube, full episodes of NBC Nightly News reached 734,000 views and 589,000 viewers. That’s according to data from Adobe Analytics and Partner Portals; YouTube Analytics Portal.
The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell averaged 4.48 million total viewers and 731,000 adults 25-54 for the week of July 4. That’s +3% when it comes to total viewers—and a gain of less than +1% in adults 25-54 from the previous week. Evening News lost -11% in total viewers and -18% among adults 25-54.
On Monday, July 4, World News Tonight was retitled due to the Fourth of July holiday, and are excluded from the weekly and season averages. ABC’s, CBS’ and NBC’s weekly averages are based on four days (Tuesday-Friday) as a result.
Nielsen live-plus-same-day averages for the week of July 4 2022:
| ABC | NBC | CBS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 7,041,000 | 6,246,000 | 4,483,000 |
| • A25-54: | 1,129,000 | 960,000 | 731,000 |
Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54. Live + SD Current Week (w/o 7/4/22), Previous Week (w/o 6/27/22) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 7/5/21). Most Current: 2021 -2022 Season (9/20/21 – 7/10/22) and 2020 -2021 Season (9/21/20 – 7/11/21). Beginning 8/31/20, national ratings also include Out of Home (OOH) viewing. Averages based on regular telecasts.