Amidst all the drama enveloping CBS News, its evening newscast enjoyed positive ratings news for the week of May 12. The CBS Evening News was the only broadcast to record week-to-week growth in either total viewers or the advertiser-coveted Adults 25-54 demo.
Furthermore, it was also the only newscast to not lose any viewers in either of the measured categories during the observed week. Could this be the sign that viewers are now beginning to engage with the broadcast? Additional data from the coming weeks will determine whether this is the beginning of a positive trend.
Meanwhile, the countdown has begun for Lester Holt. The NBC Nightly News anchor will depart the chair on May 30, with Tom Llamas taking over on June 2.
According to live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir averaged 6.966 million total viewers and 891,000 A25-54 viewers. The newscast dipped below the 7 million total viewer mark and was down -4% in total viewers and -8% in the demo compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance alongside the same week in 2024 (the week beginning May 13), WNT was down -3% in total viewers and -10% in the demo.
NBC Nightly News remained in second place in both measured categories, averaging 5.465 million total viewers and 776,000 demo viewers. Week-to-week, the newscast declined -3% in the former category and -2% in the latter—the only newscast with consecutive week-to-week decreases in the two measured categories. Year-to-year, Nightly News was down -6% in total viewers and -1% in the demo.
CBS Evening News pulled in 3.766 million total viewers and 503,000 demo viewers for a +4% gain in the former category and a flat result in the latter. But it also suffered steepest drop in year-to-year comparisons, declining -12% in total viewers and -18% in the demo.
| ABC | NBC | CBS | |
| • Total Viewers: | 6,966,000 | 5,465,000 | 3,766,000 |
| • A25-54: | 891,000 | 776,000 | 503,000 |
Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD Current Week (w/o 5/12/25), Previous Week (w/o 5/5/25) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 5/13/24). Most Current Data Stream: 2024-2025 Season (9/23/24 – 5/18/25) and 2023-2024 Season (9/25/23 – 5/19/24). 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.
