Observed Signal · Mar 19, 2026 · Ratings Report · Source: Adweek · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Morning Show Ratings Drop: Today Leads, GMA Closes Gap
For the week of March 9, 2026, NBC News’ Today remained the most-watched U.S. morning newscast in total viewers and Adults 25-54, but all three major network morning shows — Today, ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) and CBS Mornings — saw week-over-week declines. Nielsen national Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel ratings show Today averaged 2.918 million total viewers and 634,000 A25-54 viewers; GMA averaged 2.838 million and 452,000 in the demo; CBS Mornings averaged 1.688 million and 273,000. GMA was the only show with year-over-year gains (+12% total, +4% demo). CBS Mornings was retitled to “CBS Morn” on March 10, 2026, and that retitled telecast is excluded from the weekly and season averages (CBS’s weekly averages use four days).
Weekly Nielsen audience measurements influence TV ad planning and inventory valuation for networks and advertisers, but these are routine weekly ratings rather than industry-shifting changes.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Today (NBC News) averaged 2.918 million total viewers and 634,000 Adults 25-54 for the week of March 9, 2026.
- Good Morning America (ABC News) averaged 2.838 million total viewers and 452,000 Adults 25-54 for the week; week-over-week -5% total and -9% demo; year-over-year +12% total and +4% demo.
- CBS Mornings averaged 1.688 million total viewers and 273,000 Adults 25-54 for the week; week-over-week -5% total and -2% demo; year-over-year -10% total and -18% demo.
- Only 80,000 total viewers separated Today and Good Morning America for the week of March 9, 2026.
- CBS Mornings was retitled to "CBS Morn" on March 10, 2026; the retitled telecast is excluded from the weekly and season averages, so CBS’s weekly averages are based on four days.
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Today Tops Morning Ratings Week of March 30
For the week of March 30, 2026, NBC News’ Today remained the most-watched U.S. morning show, narrowly beating ABC’s Good Morning America in total viewers. Nielsen’s national Live+Same-Day Big Data+Panel ratings show Today averaged 2.963 million total viewers and 615,000 in Adults 25–54; GMA averaged 2.904 million total viewers and 475,000 in A25–54; CBS Mornings averaged 1.736 million and 268,000 in the demo. All three network morning shows declined versus the prior week. Year-over-year comparisons versus the same week in 2025 show Today up in total viewers (+13%) but down slightly in the demo (-2%), GMA up in total viewers (+5%) but down in the demo (-8%), and CBS Mornings down substantially in both total viewers (-12%) and the demo (-22%). Source: Nielsen Big Data+Panel (NTI) as reported by Adweek/TVNewser.
Today Show Dominates Morning Ratings, Sees Major Viewer Growth
Nielsen national live+same-day ratings for the week of March 2, 2026 show NBC News’ Today leading U.S. morning shows with 3.252 million total viewers and 660,000 Adults 25-54 viewers, extending its winning streak to seven consecutive weeks. ABC’s Good Morning America averaged 2.985 million total viewers and 496,000 in A25-54, registering a week-to-week decline of 5% but a year-over-year gain versus the same week in 2025. CBS Mornings averaged 1.775 million total viewers and 278,000 A25-54; its weekly average is based on three days due to retitled telecasts being excluded from averages. Nielsen’s Live+Same-Day Big Data Plus Panel measurement is cited as the source. The article notes retitled broadcasts (CBS Morn and Today TS) were excluded from weekly and season averages, and NBC’s weekly averages are based on four days (Tuesday–Friday).
Today Show Tops Morning Ratings Despite Yearly Demo Decline
NBC News' Today was the most-watched U.S. morning broadcast for the week of Jan. 26, 2026, narrowly beating ABC News' Good Morning America in total viewers. According to Nielsen national live+same-day Big Data + Panel ratings, Today averaged 3.095 million total viewers and 652,000 viewers in Adults 25–54, while GMA averaged 3.065 million total viewers and 527,000 in the demo. CBS Mornings averaged 1.833 million total viewers and 285,000 in A25–54. Week-over-week and year-over-year percentage changes were reported: GMA rose vs. the prior week and vs. the year-ago week, Today also grew vs. the prior week and year-ago in total viewers but declined in the demo year-over-year, and CBS Mornings showed declines versus the previous week and year-ago comparisons. Nielsen/NTI is cited as the data source.
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