‘World News Tonight’ Surges in Viewership, Widens Lead in Key Demo
New York, NY – ABC’s “World News Tonight,” anchored by david Muir, recorded meaningful gains in viewership and the crucial Adults 25-54 demographic during the week of October 13, 2025. The broadcast achieved its most-watched status in 11 weeks, bolstering its position as a leading source of evening news.
Dominating the Ratings Landscape
Data released by Nielsen indicates that “World News Tonight” attracted an average of 7.658 million total viewers and 927,000 Adults 25-54 viewers for the week. This represents a 6% increase in total viewership and a noteworthy 16% jump in the key demographic compared to the previous week. notably, the program also demonstrated a 5% year-over-year increase in total viewers.
This surge in viewership extends the lead “World News Tonight” has established over its competitors. the program now leads NBC’s “Nightly News” by a margin of 181,000 demo viewers.
competition Sees Mixed Results
NBC’s “Nightly News,” fronted by Tom Llamas,experienced a comparatively stagnant week,remaining flat in total viewers and declining by 5% in the Adults 25-54 demo. Compared to the same week last year, “nightly News” also saw a 1% decrease in total viewership and a 9% decrease in the key demographic.
CBS’s “Evening News” showed modest gains, increasing by 3% in total viewers and 2% in the demo week-over-week.However, year-over-year, the broadcast experienced a more substantial decline, with a 17% drop in total viewers and a 37% decrease in the demo, marking the largest decline among the three major networks.
| Network | Total viewers | A25-54 Viewers |
|---|---|---|
| ABC | 7,658,000 | 927,000 |
| NBC | 5,646,000 | 746,000 |
| CBS | 3,661,000 | 432,000 |
Did You Know? the evening news landscape has become increasingly competitive, with stations adapting to changing consumer habits and the rise of digital news platforms.
The numbers reported exclude the Monday and Friday broadcasts of ABC’s “World News Tonight” due to scheduling adjustments for NFL coverage, which were branded as “WNT-ABC.”
The Evolving dynamics of Evening News
The performance of these evening newscasts provides a crucial barometer of public interest in conventional broadcast journalism. Recent years have witnessed a decline in traditional television viewership as audiences migrate to digital platforms. However, evening news programs continue to draw substantial audiences, especially among older demographics. This sustained viewership underlines the continued importance of curated, in-depth reporting in a fragmented media habitat. According to Pew Research Center, trust in national news organizations is around 38% as of December 2023, a slight increase from previous years but still relatively low. Source.
Pro Tip: For news consumers, diversifying your news sources is vital to gain a well-rounded and unbiased understanding of current events.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Adults 25-54 demographic? This demographic is highly sought after by advertisers as it represents a key consumer group with significant purchasing power.
- Why are Nielsen ratings crucial for news programs? Nielsen ratings are the standard measurement for television viewership and are used by networks to set advertising rates and evaluate program performance.
- How does NFL coverage impact news ratings? Airing news programs with alternative branding due to sports coverage can affect weekly averages, as seen with ABC’s “World News Tonight.”
- is traditional television news declining? While facing competition from digital sources, traditional television news still maintains a sizable audience, especially among certain demographics.
- What factors contribute to a news program’s success? Strong anchors,compelling content,and consistent reporting contribute to the success of a news program.
What are your thoughts on the future of evening news in the age of streaming and social media? Share your opinions in the comments below!
