With no more debates or other match-ups between the candidates, we’ve officially reached the doldrums phase of the presidential election cycle. That’s reflected in the ratings for the week of October 14, as all three evening news broadcasts saw week-to-week declines in total viewers. 

In a bright spot, though, the CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell was the only newscast to see week-to-week growth in the advertiser-coveted demo of Adults 25-54.  

Note: The weekly averages of ABC World News Tonight are based on three days (Tuesday – Thursday). Monday’s (10/14/24) broadcast was retitled to WNT-ABC due to Monday Night Football. Friday’s (10/18/24)  broadcast was also retitled to WNT-ABC. These broadcasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages.

ABC World News with David Muir averaged 7.277 million total viewers and 1.023 million demo viewers for the week. It was down by -2% in the former category and -6% in the latter compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance alongside the same week in 2023 (the week beginning Oct. 16), WNT was down -3% in total viewers and -6% in the demo.

NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt was second in total viewers and the demo, averaging 5.705 million total viewers and 816,000 demo viewers, respectively. Week-to-week, Nightly News was down a respective -4% and -13% in both measured categories. Year-to-year, the newscast saw declines of -11% in total viewers and -19% in the demo.

CBS Evening News saw 4.410 million total viewers and 686,000 viewers in the demo for a decline of -2% and a gain of +9% compared to the previous week. Compared to its year-ago numbers, it declined -6% in total viewers and stayed flat in the demo.

Nielsen live-plus-same-day averages for the week of October 14, 2024: