For the final week of October, NBC Nightly News was the only evening newscast to see week-to-week gains in both total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo. This was Nightly News’ largest audience in total viewers and the demo since March.
Though ABC World News Tonight was the only broadcast to fall in one of the measured categories (sliding in total viewers for the week of October 27), it was also No. 1 in total viewers and the demo. In the demo, WNT set a season high as it inches closer to the million-viewer barrier.
Note: The weekly average of ABC News is based on three days (Tuesday to Thursday), while CBS News’ averages are based on four days (Monday-Thursday). Monday’s (10/27/25) broadcast was retitled WNT-ABC due to the NFL, and Friday’s (10/31/25) broadcast was retitled WNT-ABC as well. Friday’s CBS Evening News broadcast was also retitled to CBS Evening Nws. These broadcasts were excluded from the weekly and season averages.
According to national live+same-day big data plus program ratings from Nielsen, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir averaged 7.755 million total viewers and 949,000 Adults 25-54 demo viewers for the week of October 27. The evening newscast slipped -1% in total viewers but rose +3% in the demo compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance for the same week in 2024 (the week beginning Oct. 28), WNT was up by +7% in total viewers but down -7% in the demo.
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas was second in total viewers and the demo, averaging 6.155 million and 848,000 viewers, respectively, for the just-concluded week. The broadcast grew by +5% in total viewers and +6% in the A25-54 demo. When comparing its performance to the same week a year ago, Nightly News was up +8% in total viewers and in the demo—it was the only broadcast to grow across the board in this year-over-year comparison.
CBS Evening News had 4.070 million total viewers and 491,000 viewers in the demo for the week of October 27. The broadcast was flat in total viewers and was up by +7% in the demo compared to the previous week. Its year-ago week numbers showed the newscast declining by -9% in total viewers and -29% in the demo.
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 10/27/25), Previous Week (w/o 10/20/25), and Year-Ago Week (w/o 10/28/24). Season to date: Most Current Data Stream: 2025-2026 Season (9/22 – 11/2/25) and 2024-2025 Season (9/23 – 11/3/24).
Mark Mwachiro is a TVNewser contributor who has been writing for the blog since March 2022. Based out of New York, Mark has also contributed to ADWEEK.
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She will no longer host her weeknight show.
NBC News also announced a new digital subscription product