What's Happening?
The ratings for the 2024-2025 TV broadcast season have been released, showing ABC World News Tonight with David Muir as the most-watched newscast in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demographic. According
to Nielsen ratings cited by AdWeek, ABC World News Tonight averaged 7.594 million total viewers and 1.054 million demo viewers, despite a 2% decline in both categories compared to the previous season. NBC Nightly News and CBS Evening News also experienced declines, with NBC averaging 6.020 million total viewers and CBS 4.171 million. Both networks underwent host transitions during the season, with Lester Holt replaced by Tom Llamas at NBC and Norah O'Donnell replaced by John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois at CBS. Notably, CBS Evening News showed a 1% increase in the key demo during the third quarter of 2025.
Why It's Important?
The ratings reveal shifts in viewer preferences and the impact of host changes on network news programs. ABC's continued dominance underscores its strong viewer base, while the declines at NBC and CBS highlight challenges in maintaining audience engagement amid leadership changes. The slight gain by CBS in the third quarter suggests potential for recovery, indicating that strategic adjustments can influence viewer retention. These trends are significant for advertisers and stakeholders in the media industry, as they affect advertising revenue and network strategies.
What's Next?
Networks may continue to adjust their strategies to regain or maintain viewership, potentially involving further changes in programming or presentation style. The performance of new hosts will be closely monitored to assess their impact on ratings. Advertisers will likely adjust their spending based on these trends, influencing the financial dynamics of the networks.
