ABC ‘WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH DAVID MUIR’ LEADS NBC BY 2+ MILLION VIEWERS – BIGGEST MARGIN IN 14 MONTHS

“World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 evening newscast in all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers(7.864 million), Adults 25-54 (925,000) and Adults 18-49 (638,000) during the week of Oct. 20, 2025, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

• “World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (5.843 million, 803,000 and 506,000, respectively) by 2.021 million Total Viewers, by 122,000 Adults 25-54 and by 132,000 Adults 18-49.
• “World News Tonight” increased its gap over “NBC Nightly News” versus the previous week in Total Viewers (2.021 million vs. 2.012 million) and Adults 18-49 (+6% – 132,000 vs. 125,000), turning in its largest overall viewer lead in 14 months — since w/o 8/26/24
• “World News Tonight” widened its margins over “NBC Nightly News” year to year in Total Viewers (+30% – 2.021 million vs. 1.560 million) and Adults 18-49 (+55% – 132,000 vs. 85,000).
• “World News Tonight” saw week-week-to-week gains in Total Viewers (+3%/+206,000 – 7.864 million vs. 7.658 million) and Adults 18-49 (+1%/+7,000 – 638,000 vs. 631,000), drawing its largest overall audience in 7 months – since w/o 3/17/25.
• “World News Tonight” was up on the same week last year in Total Viewers (+4%/+319,000 – 7.864 million vs. 7.545 million), standing as the only evening newscast to grow year to year.
• On Tuesday (10/21/25), “World News Tonight” turned in its most-watched telecast (8.751 million) in 9 months – 2/19/25.
• “World News Tonight” (7.864 million, 925,000 and 638,000, respectively) beat “CBS Evening News” (4.090 million, 457,000 and 328,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+92%/+3.774 million), Adults 25-54 (+102%/+468,000) and Adults 18-49(+95%/+310,000).
• Season to date, “World News Tonight” (7.500 million) is ranking No. 1 in Total Viewers for the 10th straight year, based on Most Current Big Data+Panel Ratings. “World News Tonight” is leading “NBC Nightly News” (5.749 million) by 1.751 million and “CBS Evening News” (3.750 million) by 3.750 million. In addition, “World News Tonight” is delivering its largest Total Viewer season lead over the CBS program in at least 34 years — since at least the 1991-1992 season; the Nielsen electronic database started in September 1991.
• “World News Tonight” is ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the 7th season in a row. “World News Tonight” (888,000 and +612,000, respectively) is leading NBC (788,000 and 529,000, respectively) by 100,000 Adults 25-54 and by 83,000 Adults 18-49. Additionally, “World News Tonight” is widening margins with “CBS Evening News” (433,000 and 313,000, respectively) by double digits in Adults 25-54 (+16% – 455,000 vs. 392,000) and Adults 18-49 (+11% – 299,000 vs. 269,000) versus the comparable weeks last season.

NOTE: On Monday (10/20/25), “World News Tonight” was retitled to “WNT-ABC” due to the NFL.   On Tuesday (10/21/25), NBC’s “Nightly News” was preempted due to “NBA Tip Off.”  On Friday (10/17/25), “World News Tonight” was also retitled to “WNT-ABC.” The retitled telecasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages. ABC’s weekly averages are based on three days (Tuesday-Thursday), while NBC’s weekly averages are based on four days (Monday, Wednesday-Friday)

ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” airs 6:30-7:00 p.m. ET on ABC. Chris Dinan is the executive producer of the broadcast.

EVENING NEWS (Week of Oct. 20, 2025)

	TOTAL VIEWERS	ADULTS 25-54	ADULTS 18-49	HOUSEHOLDS
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT	7,864,000	0.7/11; 925,000	0.5/10; 638,000	4.7/18
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS	5,843,000	0.6/ 9;   803,000	0.4/ 7; 506,000	3.4/13
CBS EVENING NEWS	4,090,000	0.4/ 5;   457,000	0.2/ 5; 328,000	2.4/ 9

Source: Nielsen, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 National Live + Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings. Current Week (w/o 10/20/25), Previous Week (w/o 10/13/25) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 10/21/24). Season to date: Most Current Data Stream: 2025-2026 Season (9/22 – 10/26/25) and 2024-2025 Season (9/23 – 10/27/24). Beginning 12/26/22, averages are based on Big Data Plus Panel ratings. Nielsen ratings for ABC, NBC and CBS include additional airings in select markets. Beginning 9/29/25, “World News Tonight” averages include airings on ABCNL. Beginning 8/31/20, national ratings also include Out of Home (OOH) viewing.

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