Press release - Ratings
September 21, 2026
MARKING A DECADE AS #1 NEWSCAST IN AMERICA, ‘ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH DAVID MUIR’ WINS THE SEASON AND GROWS IN TOTAL VIEWERS, ADULTS 25-54 AND ADULTS 18-49 OVER LAST SEASON
#1 Program on All of TV for 33 Weeks, More Than Any Other Program on TV
ABC Posts Largest Lead Over NBC in 31 Years — Nearly 2 Million Viewers — and Largest Lead Over CBS in 34 Years — Leading by 4.3 Million Viewers
From the Start of War in Iran (9.4 Million Viewers) to America’s 250th and 9/11 25 Years Later, ‘World News Tonight’ Is #1 Newscast in Total Viewers and All Demos — on the Major News Nights America Turns to ABC
With 8.3 Million Viewers, ‘World News Tonight’ Finishes Season With Largest Viewership in Five Years
2025-2026 Season
“World News Tonight” stands as the most-watched evening newscast for the 10th consecutive season — since the 2016-17 season — spending 33 of 52 weeks as the No. 1 program of the week in Total Viewers on all of broadcast and cable (with and without sports), the most number of weeks at No. 1 for any program during the 2025-2026 season. “World News Tonight” ranked as America’s No. 1 evening newscast for the 2025-2026 season in all key target demos, Total Viewers (8.345 million), Adults 25-54 (1.050 million) and Adults 18-49 (772,000), for the 7th straight year, based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research.
- “World News Tonight” was the No. 1 newscast for all 52 out of 52 weeks of the 2025-2026 season in Total Viewers.
- “World News Tonight” delivered across the board increases compared to the previous season: Total Viewers (+6%/+481,000 – 8.345 million vs. 7.864 million), Adults 25-54 (+2%/+20,000 – 1.050 million vs. 1.030 million) and Adults 18-49 (+6%/+44,000 – 772,000 vs. 728,000). In fact, “World News Tonight” drew its largest season viewership in 5 years — since the 2020-2021 season.
- “World News Tonight” (8.345 million) led “NBC Nightly News” (6.540 million) by 1.805 million and “CBS Evening News” (4.040 million) by 4.305 million. In fact, “World News Tonight” grew its Total Viewer lead over NBC compared to last season (+9% — 1.805 million vs. 1.663 million) to its largest in 31 years — since the 1994-1995 season. “World News Tonight” also delivered 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” (1.050 million and 772,000, respectively) outperformed NBC (949,000 and 668,000, respectively) by 101,000 Adults 25-54 and by 104,000 Adults 18-49. Additionally, “World News Tonight” widened its margins by double digits over “CBS Evening News” (525,000 and 382,000, respectively) in Adults 25-54 (+10% – 525,000 vs. 477,000) and Adults 18-49 (+14% – 390,000 vs. 343,000) versus last season.
3rd Quarter 2026
ABC News’ “World News Tonight with David Muir” won the 3rd Quarter 2026 in all key target demos: Total Viewers (8.394 million), Adults 25-54 (1.103 million) and Adults 18-49 (827,000), based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research. In fact, “World News Tonight” took the top spot in overall viewers and in the key Adults news demo during the 3rd quarter for the 7th year in a row — since 3Q20. Overall, “World News Tonight” led in Total Viewers for the 38th consecutive quarter and for the 27th straight quarter in Adults 25-54 — since 2Q17 and 1Q20, respectively.
- “World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (6.632 million, 1.000 million and 733,000, respectively) by 1.762 million Total Viewers, by 103,000 Adults 25-54 and by 94,000 Adults 18-49.
- “World News Tonight” increased its Total Viewer lead over NBC from the year-ago quarter in Total Viewers (+1% – 1.762 million vs. 1.738 million) to deliver its largest overall viewer lead over the NBC program during a 3rd quarter in 34 years — since 3Q92.
- For the 3rd quarter, “World News Tonight” (8.394 million, 1.103 million and 827,000, respectively) outperformed “CBS Evening News” (3.929 million, 527,000 and 381,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+4.465 million), Adults 25-54 (+576,000) and Adults 18-49 (+446,000). In fact, “World News Tonight” turned in its largest Total Viewer lead over the CBS program during any quarter for at least 34 years — the Nielsen electronic database started in September 1991.
Week of Sept. 14, 2026
In the final 23 weeks of the season, “World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 program in Total Viewers (8.167 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) for the week of Sept. 14, 2026, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.
- “World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 newscast in all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (8.167 million), Adults 25-54 (1.151 million) and Adults 18-49 (856,000).
- “World News Tonight” beat “NBC Nightly News” (6.582 million, 1.065 million and 767,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+24%/+1.585 million), Adults 25-54 (+8%/+86,000) and Adults 18-49 (+12%/+89,000).
- “World News Tonight” widened in Total Viewer advantage over “NBC Nightly News” both week to week (+2% – 1.585 million vs. 1.548 million) and year to year (+12% – 1.585 million vs. 1.415 million).
- “World News Tonight” turned in double-digit gains on the same week last year in Total Viewers (+15%/+1.095 million – 8.167 million vs. 7.072 million), Adults 25-54 (+46%/+365,000 – 1.151 million vs. 786,000) and Adults 18-49 (+60%/+320,000 – 856,000 vs. 536,000), posting year-to-year increases across the board for the 11th straight week.
- “World News Tonight” (8.167 million, 1.151 million and 856,000, respectively) defeated “CBS Evening News” (4.003 million, 599,000 and 405,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+104%/+4.164 million), Adults 25-54 (+92%/+552,000)and Adults 18-49 (+111%/+451,000).
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 (2025-2026 Season)
| TOTAL VIEWERS | ADULTS 25-54 | ADULTS 18-49 | |
| ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT | 8,472,000 | 1,071,000 | 793,000 |
| NBC NIGHTLY NEWS | 6,540,000 | 949,000 | 668,000 |
| CBS EVENING NEWS | 4,040,000 | 525,000 | 382,000 |
EVENING NEWS (3rd Quarter 2026)
| TOTAL VIEWERS | ADULTS 25-54 | ADULTS 18-49 | |
| ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT | 8,394,000 | 1,103,000 | 827,000 |
| NBC NIGHTLY NEWS | 6,632,000 | 1,000,000 | 733,000 |
| CBS EVENING NEWS | 3,929,000 | 527,000 | 381,000 |
EVENING NEWS (Week of Sept. 14, 2026)
| TOTAL VIEWERS | ADULTS 25-54 | ADULTS 18-49 | |
| ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT | 8,167,000 | 1,151,000 | 856,000 |
| NBC NIGHTLY NEWS | 6,582,000 | 1,065,000 | 767,000 |
| CBS EVENING NEWS | 4,003,000 | 599,000 | 405,000 |
Source: Nielsen Big Data + Panel, L+SD, Week of 9/7/2026. Season dates: Most Current Data Stream: 2025-2026 Season (9/22/25 – 9/20/26) and 2024-2025 Season (9/23/24 – 9/21/25). L+7/Most Current – 3Q26: 6/29 – 9/21/26, 2Q26: 3/30 – 6/28/26 and 3Q25: 6/30 – 9/21/25, 2Q25, Average audience based on regularly titled telecasts only.
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