What's Happening?
The ratings for the 2024-2025 TV broadcast season reveal a decline in viewership for major evening news programs. ABC World News Tonight with David Muir remains the most-watched newscast, averaging 7.594
million total viewers and 1.054 million in the Adults 25-54 demographic, despite a 2% decrease from the previous season. NBC Nightly News and CBS Evening News also saw declines, with NBC averaging 6.020 million total viewers and CBS 4.171 million. Both networks experienced host transitions, with Tom Llamas replacing Lester Holt on NBC and John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois taking over from Norah O’Donnell on CBS. CBS Evening News, however, showed a slight gain in the third quarter of 2025, with a 1% increase in the key demo.
Why It's Important?
The decline in ratings for these major news programs highlights shifting viewer preferences and the challenges traditional media faces in retaining audiences. The host changes at NBC and CBS may have contributed to the viewership drop, as audiences adjust to new presenters. This trend could impact advertising revenue and influence how networks strategize their news programming. The slight gain for CBS in the third quarter suggests potential for recovery, but overall, the decline underscores the competitive landscape of news media, where digital platforms increasingly capture audience attention.
What's Next?
Networks may need to innovate their content delivery and engagement strategies to regain viewership. This could involve integrating more digital content, interactive segments, or personalized news experiences. The performance of new hosts will be closely monitored to assess their impact on ratings. Additionally, networks might explore partnerships with digital platforms to expand their reach and attract younger audiences who prefer online news consumption.