The first full week of October had only one bright spot: CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil. It was the only broadcast to show meaningful movement in either measured category, gaining viewers in the prized Adults 25-54 demo.
Meanwhile, none of the three evening newscasts grew in total viewers, with ABC World News Tonight with David Muir and NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas losing viewers in that category for the week of October 5.
Note: ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, and CBS Evening News’ weekly averages are based on four days (Monday-Thursday). ABC News retitled Friday’s edition (10/09/26) to WNT-ABC, NBC News retitled its broadcast to NBC Nitely News, and CBS News retitled its broadcast to CBS Evening Nws. These broadcasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages.
According to Nielsen national live+same-day big data and program ratings, ABC World News Tonight averaged 8.219 million total viewers and 1.139 million Adults 25-54 demo viewers for the week of Oct. 5. The evening newscast was down -2% in total viewers and flat with A25-54 viewers compared to the previous week. During the same week in 2025 (the week beginning Oct. 6), WNT was up +14% in total viewers and +42% in the demo.
NBC Nightly News finished in second place in total viewers and the demo, averaging 6.482 million and 1.008 million viewers, respectively. Compared to the previous week, Nightly News fell by -6% in total viewers and was flat in the demo. When comparing its performance to the same week a year ago, Nightly News was up by +15% in total viewers and +28% in the demo.
CBS Evening News closed out the week of Oct. 5 with 4.219 million total viewers and 613,000 demo viewers. CBS News’ newscast was flat in total viewers but was the only one with gains in the demo, growing +5% compared to the previous week. Its year-ago week numbers showed CBS Evening News up +19% in total viewers and +45% in the demo.
October 5, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
| ABC | NBC | CBS | |
| • Total Viewers: | 8,219,000 | 6,482,000 | 4,219,000 |
| • A25-54: | 1,139,000 | 1,008,000 | 613,000 |
Source: Nielsen Big Data + Panel, L+SD, Week of 10/5/2026. Season to date: Most Current Data Stream: 2026-2027 Season (9/21 – 10/11/26) and 2025-2026 Season (9/22 – 10/12/26). Average audience based on regularly titled telecasts only.
