Audience Interest is Flat as 2024 Winds Down

ABC World News with David Muir remained America’s No. 1 evening news program in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 audience for the week of December 9. All three evening newscasts showed minimal to no movement in total viewers compared to the previous week. However, WNT was the only broadcast with week-to-week gains in the demo.

One thing to monitor in the coming weeks is whether ABC News can maintain its viewership dominance—especially in the evening news—after it was revealed that the news network settled the defamation suit brought by President-elect Donald Trump. Even though the suit involved This Week and Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopolous, the appearance of “bending the knee” to the incoming administration might not sit well with viewers.

Note: The weekly averages of ABC World News Tonight and CBS News are based on three days (Tuesday to Thursday) and Four days (Tuesday to Friday). Monday (12/09/24) and Friday’s (12/13/24) ABC News’ broadcasts were retitled to WNT-ABC, while Friday’s (12/13/24) CBS News’ broadcast was retitled to CBS Evening Nws. These broadcasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages.

ABC World News Tonight averaged 7.854 million total viewers and 1.084 million for a dip of -1% in the former category, but an uptick of +1% in the latter compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance alongside the same week in 2023 (the week of Dec. 11), WNT was up +2% in total viewers and +8% in the demo.

NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt was the second most-watched newscast averaging 6.326 million total viewers and 886,000 demo viewers. Week-to-week, that translates to a flat result in the former category, and a decline of -5% in the latter. Year-to-year, Nightly News was down -5% in total viewers and -7% in the demo. 

CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell saw 4.674 million total viewers and 683,000 A25-54 viewers for a flat result in the former category and a -2% dip in the latter. Compared to its year-ago numbers, it was down by -1% in total viewers but up by +6% in the demo. 

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD Current Week (w/o 12/9/24), Previous Week (w/o 12/2/24) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 12/11/23). Most Current Data Stream: 2024-2025 Season (9/23 – 12/15/24) and 2023-2024 Season (9/25 – 11/17/23). Nielsen ratings for ABC, NBC and CBS include additional airings in select markets. Beginning 8/31/20, national ratings also include Out of Home (OOH) viewing. Averages based on regular telecasts.

[Editor’s Note: Due to the holiday, this will be the last evening news ratings report of 2024. Reports will resume the week of Jan. 5]