NBC, ABC & CBS Evening News Ratings: Who’s on Top & Who’s Lagging Behind?
ABC and NBC held onto the top two slots across broadcast evening news ratings for the week of September 8, but CBS Evening News was the only program to see gains in both total viewers and the key Adults 25-54 demo. However, CBS is showing a double digit drop on its ratings compared with the same week last year.
According to AdWeek, citing live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen, CBS Evening News had 3.872 million total viewers and 574,000 viewers in the key demo for the week of September 8. This was up 4% in total viewers and up 11% in the demo compared to the week before. It was the only evening news broadcast to post growth in both categories.
In comparison to the same week last year, CBS Evening News was down 12% in total viewers and down 13% in the key demo. John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois have helmed the show since January 27, following the exit of Norah O’Donnell.
It should be noted that the weekly averages for ABC News are based on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday), while NBC News’ averages are based on four days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday).
ABC’s World News Tonight was retitled to WNT-ABCE on Monday and Thursday due to the NFL and reports on the Charlie Kirk shooting. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s edition of NBC Nightly News was preempted due to the Kirk shooting.
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir maintained the top spot for the week of September 8, averaging 7.133 million total viewers and 1.002 million viewers in the 25-54 demo. While the show dropped 1% in total viewers, it was up 12% in the demo compared to the week prior. It was also up on the same week in 2024, with a 3% increase in total viewers and a 4% rise in the demo.
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas held the No. 2 slot for the week with an average of 5.655 million total viewers and 767,000 viewers in the key demo. This was flat with last week’s average in total viewers but down 6% in the demo. The program was also down in both categories compared to last year, with a drop of 6% in total viewers and a fall of 13% in the demo.
World News Tonight with David Muir, Weeknights, 6:30/5:30c, ABC
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas, Weeknights, 6:30/5:30c, NBC
CBS Evening News, Weeknights, 6:30/5:30c, CBS
Conversation27 Comments
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What Jimmy Kimmel actually said, as far as the words, wasn’t bad at all. But why does he have to tell a joke that had to do with Charlie Kirk, while making fun of the President. Why couldn’t he have left CK out of it and hammer Trump all he wants. It’s tasteless & disrespectful on Mr Kimmel’s part and if it were my company I’d have fired him too. Companies can fire people and do so everyday for making bad choices. This one is no different. This is not about freedom of speech. It’s more about Jimmy Kimmel’s arrogance thinking he’d be able to pull it off. Problem is he forgot about the thing called human decency during a time like this for affected families.
The freedom of speech thing is bothering me. I think about me going in to work and telling my boss to go f#@$ himself. You think freedom of speech would cover me when I got fired? Think I would have people picketing outside Disney World on my behalf?
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All three of them are politically biased and will say anything they’re told to say. Who cares which one is on top On top of what, crap? What an honor. I grew up during a time when you could rely on the networks to bring fair and balanced news that was actually true. That’s why all of their viewer numbers are so low.
I haven’t watched any of it now for years. Get my news else where.
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Thats what ypu get with fake news. America is on to your globalist agenda. Ehy dont you just pack it up ! We dont want you anymore
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All three of these networks, along with CNN and MSNBC should be taken off the air! They are nothing but left wing propagandists who lie night after night and spread fear and hate. Despicable
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So freedom of speech is only for one political party 🤔🤬. Brave Americans died for this freedom!
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Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson are doing an excellent job anchoring the CBS Evening News.
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I don’t like any of them. Fox still has best news!!!
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it is not honest to exclude Fox n CNN to qualify the best
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I think that it is important to stay involved with what is going on in the world. ABC and NBC had done a better job. Norah O'Donnell was great at CBS but she left.It was sad when she left. But news people will not speak up. Hopefully journalists will NOT back down. Free speech will continue and the president can't stop it. We will talk about him all day long.
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The media is controlled by the Democratic party
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It's truly amazing the comments posted here. All of these hosts and shows are driven by ratings. If you don't have ratings you don't have a show. Stop blaming people for watching a network you don't agree with. They don't necessarily watch a network because you believe they are deranged.
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I no longer watch MSM news because they are 100% anti TRUMP.
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What does it really matter, the mainstream media isn't telling us the entire truth about things anymore anyway, so it really doesn't make a difference who the anchor is, they're ALL in fear for their jobs. But while they spend all of their time worrying about the current administration taking them off the air because of one wrong word, or one wrong video, maybe they should be a little more worried about podcasts and newsreels and the news organizations on-line bumping them out, because we're getting more truth from from those sources, then we are from the people and networks that we've supported for years
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Where’s Walter Cronkite? Huntley-Brinkley? Where have all the real reporters gone….? long time passing…”Good Night and Good Luck “ trying to find any, anywhere on any channel including and especially cable “news”….
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How about having another woman ?
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I don't know. It's not necessary to watch any of them.
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Hee hee!!
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It’s not about which one is the best it’s about which one is the least worst.
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Huh?
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Why is it you use the stupid "key demographic" that does not include anyone older than 54? The majority of multi-billionaires are older than 54 and they have the most influence. They may not bother to watch CNN or the others, because nothing that's said affects their bottom line. And their "financial advisors" will let them know about what affects their obscene wealth.
Some of us skip the commercials and untalented talking heads to get our news from content we find on the Internet.
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So tonight, after historic Israel cease fire and the return of our hostages after 2 years,,, the first thing that came up was about Leatlia James indictment! This is beyond disgusting!
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For me, it's about accuracy. The national anti Trump rallies and protests get very little coverage.
.Also, on ABC on Sept 12, they were describing the rally and the final moments .the word transgender was so smoothly existed from the report, I had to double check my own facts.
I'm going to tune into Tom. Abc has messed with truth.
And then there's the Kimmel suspension..
Free speech? Please
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I miss Norah. But like CBS!!
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Norah was great !!
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While I like the new format on CBS, I stop watching when I saw CBS bend the knee to Trump.
I stopped watching ABC for the same reason.
I’m down to NBC unless they decide to kiss his feet.
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They are
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I will not watch anything on ABC until they stand up for the freedom of speech and they bring back Jimmy🤬
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