Interest in the midterm elections saw ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas, and CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil finish with week-to-week gains in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo the week of November 2.
Wednesday’s edition of WNT was the most-watched program on TV, including broadcast and cable, with 9.521 million total viewers. In the demo, ABC News’ evening program had its best showing since January 9, 2025. Meanwhile, Nightly News had its best performance in both measurements in nearly nine months, the week of February 16.
Note: The weekly averages of ABC News and NBC News are based on three days (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday). Tuesday’s broadcast (11/04/26) of ABC News was coded as a special, and NBC News’ program was preempted. Friday’s (11/06/26) edition of WNT was retitled to WNT-ABC, and NBC Nightly News was retitled to NBC Nitely News. These broadcasts were excluded from the weekly and season averages.
According to Nielsen national live+same-day big data and program ratings, ABC World News Tonight averaged 9.143 million total viewers and 1.325 million Adults 25-54 demo viewers for the week of Nov. 2. The evening newscast was up +8% in total viewers and +15% in the A25-54 demo compared to the previous week. WNT was up +27%* in total viewers and +50% in the demo vs. the same week in 2025 (the week beginning Nov. 3).
NBC Nightly News ranked second in total viewers and the demo, averaging 7.268 million and 1.163 million viewers, respectively. Compared to the previous week, Nightly News grew by +9% in total viewers and +25% in the demo. When comparing its performance to the same week a year ago, Nightly News was up by +9% in total viewers and +25% in the demo.
Finally, CBS Evening News finished the week of Nov. 2 with 4.332 million total viewers and 663,000 demo viewers. CBS News’ newscast saw gains of +3% in total viewers and +12% compared to the previous week. Its year-ago week numbers showed CBS Evening News up +2% in total viewers and +18% in the demo.
*Note: ABC’s national availability was limited due to a carriage dispute between Disney and YouTube TV.
November 2, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
| ABC | NBC | CBS | |
| • Total Viewers: | 9,143,000 | 7,268,000 | 4,332,000 |
| • A25-54: | 1,325,000 | 1,163,000 | 663,000 |
Source: Nielsen Big Data + Panel, L+SD, Week of 11/2/2026. Season to date: Most Current Data Stream: 2026-2027 Season (9/21 – 11/8/26) and 2025-2026 Season (9/22 – 11/9/26). Average audience based on regularly titled telecasts only.
