Observed Signal · Mar 20, 2026 · Ratings Report · Source: Adweek · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Evening News Ratings Fall Week of March 9
For the week of March 9, 2026, ABC, NBC and CBS evening newscasts all posted week‑to‑week declines in total viewers and Adults 25‑54. ABC World News Tonight with David Muir remained the most‑watched broadcast, averaging 8.478 million total viewers and 1.033 million A25‑54. NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas averaged 6.514 million total viewers and 946,000 A25‑54. CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil fell to 3.845 million total viewers and 468,000 A25‑54, below 4 million for the week and showing the largest year‑over‑year demo decline. Nielsen national Live+Same‑Day Big Data+Panel ratings were cited; the report notes possible influences on viewing patterns including unrest in the Middle East and the recent switch to Daylight Saving Time.
Routine weekly Nielsen audience measurements for broadcast newscasts; informative for linear TV audience trends but not industry‑shifting for AdTech/MarTech.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- ABC World News Tonight averaged 8.478 million total viewers and 1.033 million Adults 25‑54 for the week of March 9, 2026 (down -5% total, -6% demo vs. previous week).
- NBC Nightly News averaged 6.514 million total viewers and 946,000 Adults 25‑54 (down -6% total, -10% demo vs. previous week).
- CBS Evening News averaged 3.845 million total viewers and 468,000 Adults 25‑54 (down -7% total, -8% demo vs. previous week) and fell below 4 million total viewers for the week.
- Year‑over‑year comparisons: ABC +13% total, +1% demo; NBC +7% total, +6% demo; CBS -5% total, -21% demo (the only broadcast with YoY demo declines).
- Report sourced to Nielsen national Live+Same‑Day Big Data Plus Panel program ratings; ABC led CBS by 4.633 million total viewers this week, its largest season lead in at least 34 years.
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Evening News Ratings Decline Week of May 4
Nielsen national live+same-day Big Data + Panel ratings show declines for the three major U.S. broadcast evening newscasts during the week of May 4, 2026. ABC World News Tonight (David Muir) led with 8.183 million total viewers and 976,000 Adults 25–54, followed by NBC Nightly News (Tom Llamas) with 6.125 million and 903,000, and CBS Evening News with 3.702 million and 473,000. All three broadcasts fell versus the previous week (ABC -1% total / -3% demo; NBC -2% / -3%; CBS -4% / -13%), while year-over-year comparisons showed mixed results. The weekly averages exclude three retitled broadcasts on 05/05, 05/06 and 05/08.
ABC Leads Evening News Ratings Amid Middle East Unrest
During the week of March 2, 2026, ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir remained the most-watched evening newscast, followed by NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas and CBS Evening News. Nielsen national live+same-day Big Data+Panel ratings show ABC averaged 8.901 million total viewers and 1.104 million Adults 25-54 (A25-54), up +3% and +7% week-to-week respectively. NBC averaged 6.898 million total and 1.054 million A25-54, posting week-to-week gains of +2% and +7%. CBS averaged 4.117 million total viewers and 507,000 A25-54, down -1% in total viewers but up +1% in the demo versus the prior week. The news cycle, driven by unrest in the Middle East, boosted viewership overall; year-over-year comparisons versus the same week in 2025 show ABC and NBC with gains while CBS declined in both total viewers and the demo.
ABC Dominates Evening News Ratings Despite Decline
For the week of February 2, 2026, ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir remained the most-watched evening newscast in total viewers and Adults 25-54 but was the only major broadcast to lose viewers week-over-week. Nielsen national Live+Same-Day Big Data Plus Panel ratings show ABC averaged 8.987 million total viewers and 1.15 million A25-54. NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas averaged 7.233 million and 1.10 million demo viewers, posting week-over-week gains (including a demo boost after Llamas’ exclusive interview with President Donald Trump). CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil averaged 4.576 million total viewers and 579,000 in the demo. The report includes week-over-week and year-over-year percentage changes and notes that Friday broadcasts retitled on Feb. 6 were excluded from weekly and season averages.
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