CBS, NBC & ABC Evening News Ratings Show Big Swings
What To Know
- All three major evening news programs—ABC, NBC, and CBS—saw week-over-week declines in both total viewers and the key demo.
- ABC World News Tonight maintained its lead in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo.
- CBS Evening News continued to lag behind its competitors, experiencing the largest weekly declines in both total viewers and the demo.
The evening news ratings are in for the first full week of May, and it was a week of declines across the board for CBS, NBC, and ABC.
According to AdWeek, citing national live+same-day big data plus program ratings from Nielsen, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir held onto the top spot in both total viewers and the coveted Adults 25-54 demographic for the week beginning May 4.
The show averaged 8.183 million total viewers and 976,000 demo viewers. This was down 1 percent in total viewers and down 3 percent in the key demo compared to the previous week. However, numbers were up year over year, with a 13 percent increase in total viewers and a 1 percent rise in the demo compared to the same period in 2025.
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas remained in the No. 2 spot, averaging 6.125 million total viewers and 903,000 demo viewers. Compared to the week before, the show was down 2 percent in total viewers and down 3 percent in the demo. However, much like World News Night, the program was up from 2025, with a 9 percent increase in total viewers and a 14 percent bump in the demo.
Meanwhile, CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil trailed its competition, averaging 3.702 million total viewers and 473,000 demo viewers. The show was down 4 percent in total viewers and down 13 percent in the key demo compared to the week prior.
Evening News, which has made headlines in recent weeks for dropping below 4 million viewers, was up 2 percent among total viewers compared to the same period last year. However, the program dropped 6 percent in the 25-54 demo.
Dokoupil took over as Evening News anchor on January 5 after he was promoted from CBS Mornings by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
CBS Evening News, Weeknights, 6:30/5:30c, CBS
NBC Nightly News, Weeknights, 6:30/5:30c, NBC
ABC World News Tonight, Weeknights, 6:30/5:30c, ABC
Conversation68 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
B
My observation/peeve...a lot of David's ABC news reporting is redundant. He will give the headlines at the opening , then when he reports, he doesn't go much further in depth than he's already said. He hurriedly glosses over each item . The same with the "teases" as he goes to commercial breaks. He doesn't report much more than he's already said. It all seems very hurried with no depth. Some of it,I've already read about in my browser with more details.
82
-
W
I know what you mean, but it's not their fault you've already read the news online. There really is no point to any of these nightly news shows now.
5
-
W
I'm glad someone else noticed this. He repeats the same info three times and then only delivers a fraction of additional information. Important stories always end with him directing people to ABC's website for more info.
37
-
W
Yep,same observation that I can add.
-
-
J
OMg; Great observation! I observe the same thing, and asked why the team does not notice this issue?
2
-
J
You are 100% correct!! After the first few minutes of the show, the commercial breaks get longer & longer ... They'll come back from a commercial break and have a 30 second segment (The index) followed by 2 more minutes of commercials ... I've stopped watching it regularly.
4
-
B
The multitude of commercials are the exact reason I no longer watch ABC World News.
It’s too bad the networks are so greedy. Unfortunately I now notice that the excessive commercials are now gradually starting to invade other programs. Cutting cable and switch to streaming is looking like a better idea every day!
1
-
K
That's why I watch few minutes and turn. Or Google what I want to hear more of.
-
-
A
I watch no news whatsoever on CBS, not even 60 Minutes. The very definition of Fake News, Trump- approved.
60
-
B
No more fake than the greatest of fake news Fox newz
7
-
-
R
why don't the networks realize that the evening news is about the news stories... not about the host anchor... they need to concentrate on the news...
43
-
W
I always laugh when I see those ads with Tony Smug-oupil saying he has to get out and "meet the people, see what they're saying across America" and all that nonsense. No, you really don't; just read the stories.
25
-
W
I really like Tony
2
-
-
-
B
Why listen to all the same lies and stories on the networks. They're afraid of all political bull to tell anything newsworthy.
34
-
C
All the media outlets are biased. Doesn't matter if it's legacy media or cable news. I guess just reporting the news isn't profitable.
32
-
M
The world hasn't had unbiased reporting since Walter Cronkite retired 40+ years ago. The last few years he surrounded himself with like minded people and that seeped into media as a whole. Now we're left with the question of what side of lies do we want to listen to.
26
-
C
The Mcniel, Leher report ran until the 1990’s I believe. That was literally the only unbiased news source I’ve ever watched. It’s ok to lean one way or the other, but whats going on today with our mainstream media should be criminal! They have become the Democratic Party’s propaganda spreading machine. It’s sad, they abide by zero point zero of what ethical journalism standards were, and not that long ago really. They’ve done more to harm and divide the country than anything or anyone else has. Anytime I mention FOX NEWS I tend to get the same reaction, and immediate judgement. I’ll never understand that because almost everyone who responds that way when I ask them if they’ve ever watched it, they say no. So they’re basing it on what they’ve heard from the corrupt legacy media. I don’t understand what they’re afraid of. I watch all of the networks including FOX. It’s the only way I can know which one of them is the most honest, truthful, and trustworthy. And every time, it’s FOX NEWS. Yes they lean to the right, and they have a lot of personalities that aren’t who I get my news from. I like their perspectives but they are not what I consider a news source. If you ever watch anything in its entirety that’s political and newsworthy, like the SOTU address, then after click back and forth from FOX NEWS, CNN & MS NOW and you will see that FOX is on point every time. The others are twisted half truths, opinions, and forced false narratives.
1
-
-
-
D
If they want to increase their ratings they should consider removing all the commercials during their half hour broadcast. They can have 2 anchors on, share the news. By having 2 anchors they have a backup anchor if something happens to the first anchor. Since it is live, they will have a backup. Unfortunately they don't do news to decimate news, they do news to show commercials. It's all about the money. They could care less if we hear what's going on in the world.
29
-
J
Couldn’t care less?
3
-
C
disseminate
2
-
R
This story is about advertizing.
-
-
J
I watch Special Report with Brett Bair. I am right leaning moderate. I've tried to watch the networks but it is so biased to the left. I know all news programs have their bias but I feel Special report really tries to be balanced. As he says at the end Fair, balanced and unafraid.
28
-
C
I agree
2
-
P
Barf
3
-
-
D
I LOVE David!! When you take the commercials out, he has less than 30 to cover the WORLD NEWS.. He’s relatable, compassionate and finds heart warming stories about real people not to mention his Made in America series!!
27
-
O
He’s boring, redundant and very narcissistic. Other than that… 😪
2
-
M
But they don’t cover world news. Where are the stories about Christian’s being killed in Nigeria? The stories about white farmers being killed in Africa? The uprising of people against the government in UK?
2
-
-
C
I was happy when Tony D left CBS mornings. He never seemed like a good fit for the show. I don’t watch CBS News n the evening because of him either. Why he was “promoted” to the evening news is a mystery to me.
To be fair none of the mainstream news are worth watching. None just report the news without interjecting their own opinions and biases. Let the viewers hear all the facts and allow the viewers to determine how they feel and react. We’re not as ignorant as the networks believe.
17
-
B
The network news is so fictional, you are better off watching a good comedy.
16
-
K
If they want to increase their ratings they have to start being a little bit more honest about actual news in this country. We don't care about fluff. We want it the truth about what Trump is doing to this nation and we want to hear about the Epstein files. There used to be integrity in the news, now everyone is scared to say the wrong thing or have the wrath of trump upon them. Grow a spine and be the important fourth column we need in this country
11
-
B
David Muir is tops. He delivers it quickly and succinctly and gets right to it. Bang bang bang.
9
-
J
David is too dramatic. He should tone down his deliveries. Everything is dramatic with him. I can get the same info with Fox. Not all the drama.
3
-
-
I
NBC News only focuses on the weather and airports. Every day it's the exact same thing: snowstorms and airline delays in the winter, and hot weather, storms, and airline delays in the summer.
9
-
A
I totally agree, Brett is the most honest and least biased of all.
-
-
S
CBS evening News expects viewers to read part of the nightly news. People want to hear the news. not read headlines. Tony does a great job.
7
-
T
The only reason I watch the news is because of Tony.
-
-
T
Nobody is interested in the MAGABS they're slinging at CBS.
6
-
J
I think any media with the name TV Insider would serve its viewers better by reporting on the excellence and success of Fox News' prime time shows -- beginning with the masterful Brett Baer at 6:00 Eastern, continuing with the dynamite Laura Ingraham at 7:00 and the inimitable Jesse Waters at 8:00 Eastern -- than by acting as if Fox News doesn't even exist and reporting on things at Trump-hating NBC (Nothing But Crud), ABC (All Bull Crap), and CBS (Crappy Beastly Slop).
4
-
G
Bring Colbert back and I'll start watching CBS again.
4
-
R
So you are the 1 who watches Colbert.
-
-
G
I try to avoid the news channel like CBS after they took a knee to Trump.ABC hints over and over of what they will say after this commercial.Trump just gave Taiwan to China.For his Epstein cover up WAR. No news will tell you that .
4
-
S
Couldn't tell you the last time I watched the evening. Too many lies and misinformation. All these stations are leftist driven and politically compromised. So I proceed to find outlets that report actual facts/examples and not opinions. You will never get that from the left.
3
-
J
I’m dropping CBS 11:30 time slot after Steven Colbert last show!
3
-
B
NBC. Tom Llamas Is my choice of those three
3
-
D
News is too depressing 😞
3
-
S
Who watches those left leaning, anti Republican news outlets anymore? Rest homes and maybe Washington DC is my guess.
2
-
K
It's your Country and your President too, so quit being so negative against both. It's really that easy, then someone (viewers) might care to listen to you again. However, you will just keep doing what you have always done, therefore your ratings will continue to slip until all of you are replaced by AI.....bye, bye we won't miss your negativity.
2
-
M
I like MSNBC which is MSNNOW. Better reporting and they tell you what's really going on.
2
-
C
Don't know how Tom Llamas pronounces his name "Yamas"
2
-
S
I love NBC with Tom. I feel he will beat David in the next few year. In the last year David looks like he is stressed or in pain. Tom is the creative newsman and will win the race.
1
-
T
Get off your liberal platform and tell the whole truth instead of the 1/2 that you support.
1
-
N
I haven’t watched network news…since I graduated from high school in 1976. What a waste of time…it has ALWAYS been….
-
K
I have switched to ABC News with David Muir since Tom Llamas took over from Lester Holt at NBC. His breathless delivery and flashing video and graphics every three seconds are more reminiscent of MTV than a sustantive news program.
-
G
See BS news
-
J
Based on the posts I see, my thought is that TV news treats newspaper news as a competitor and ignores them. He, the Washington Post did stories on fake border videos. Project 2025 left out of the first debate. I can go on. I will watch substack this morning. Much better than the talkies.
-
J
Considering all the poor election coverage &terrible questions for the debates, I don't understand why people watch the news. Newspapers have the better coverage and now substack makes things so much better. But the fact is that these stations always picked and chose what they think is important. At least the newspapers didn't do that.
-
K
I watch David but miss Lester Holt. I would like more truth about trump. David is obviously a little right wing.
-
D
If there weren’t so left leaning someone might watch their program.
-
M
Love DAVID M!!
-
I
Im an Independent and find all of the big 3 so obviously left leaning. The anchors and producers stay in a bubble with like minded people who just reenforce their progressive beliefs. So I do not watch them anymore.
-
G
Has nothing to do with the nightly news people. Just tired of hearing all the negative going on in our country. I know they are doing what needs to be reported but just not good for my mental health
-
S
Give me a break - compare those 3 lightweights to Fox News programs at the same time please.
-
M
I stopped watching NBC nightly News because I am sick and tired of the field reporters constantly saying "That's right Tom".
-
R
I watch FOX for the hot women.
-
G
I prefer Tom Llamas NBC. for my news. He's even handed David and AbC are big Democrat liberals
-
Z
Keep avoiding the real issues and keep dropping it's a no brainer folks. Keep lying keep dying.
-
D
How come no Fox News on the list, they blow all the ingrained liberal networks away, year after year.
-
S
🤔It Will be always like it is:
1 - ABC
2 - NBC
3 - CBS aka MAGA
However, sooner the 1 will be 2 and 2 will be 1but MAGA will be forever from to 3 to ♾️ and 😂beyond.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services