Only one evening news broadcast closed out the year with positive momentum, and that was the CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell. CBS News’ flagship newscast recorded week-to-week gains in total viewers and Adults 25-54, while its ABC News and NBC News rivals saw modest dips in the last week of 2024.

Still, ABC World News with David Muir finished 2024 firmly in first place in both measured categories during the week of Dec. 30, while NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt remained second among total viewers and the demo. 

The transition from one year to another is typically a slow news period. But two significant news events interrupted the changeover from 2024 to 2025—the death of former President Jimmy Carter and the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans.

Those breaking news situations may be why CBS Evening News was the only newscast to see an uptick in its viewing audience during the holidays.

Note: The weekly averages of ABC World News Tonight are based on one day (Thursday), NBC Nightly News on three days (Monday, Thursday, and Friday), and CBS News on two days (Monday and Thursday). Monday (12/30/24) and Friday’s (01/03/25) ABC News’ broadcasts were retitled to WNT-ABC, while Tuesday’s (12/31/24) and Wednesday’s (01/01/25) ABC News and CBS News broadcasts were coded as specials. NBC Nightly News was coded as a special on Tuesday and pre-empted on Wednesday. These broadcasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages.

ABC World News Tonight averaged 6.969 million total viewers and 886,000 A25-54 viewers for week-to-week declines of -2% in total viewers and -10%, respectively. Looking at its performance relative the same week in 2024 (the week of Jan. 1), WNT was down -17% in total viewers and -26% in the demo.

NBC Nightly News averaged 5.971 million total viewers and 842,000 demo viewers for respective dips of -1% and -7% compared to the previous week. Year-to-year, Nightly News was down -17% in total viewers and -52% in the demo. 

CBS Evening News attracted 4.449 million total viewers and 638,000 demo viewers for gains of +5% and +8% compared to the previous week. Compared to its year-ago week numbers, it declined by -12% in total viewers and -9% in the demo. 

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD Current Week (w/o 12/30/24), Previous Week (w/o 12/23/24) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 1/1/24). Most Current Data Stream: 2024-2025 Season (9/23/24 – 1/5/25) and 2023-2024 Season (9/25/23 – 1/7/23).  Nielsen ratings for ABC, NBC and CBS include additional airings in select markets. Beginning 8/31/20, national ratings also include Out of Home (OOH) viewing. Averages based on regular telecasts.