The first full week of August caught all three evening newscasts on the downside as they all saw declines in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo.

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir and NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas had double-digit losses in the demo, while CBS Evening News saw the smallest drop in viewership in both measured categories. Muir was absent from ABC News’ broadcast on Thursday and Friday.

Note: The weekly averages of NBC Nightly News are based on four days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday). Thursday’s (08/07/25) broadcast was retitled to NBC Nitely News due to NFL preseason football. This broadcast is excluded from the weekly and season averages.

According to live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen, ABC World News Tonight averaged 6.882 million total viewers and 915,000 Adults 25-54 demo viewers for the week of August 4. It fell by -7% in total viewers and -11% in the demo compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance to the same week in 2024 (the week beginning August 5), WNT was down -9% in total viewers and in the demo.

NBC Nightly News finished in second place in total viewers and the demo, averaging 5.346 million and 715,000 viewers, respectively. The broadcast was down -4% in total viewers and -11% in the A25-54 demo. When comparing its performance to the same week a year ago (which was during the final week of the Paris Olympic Games), Nightly News fell by -30% in total viewers and -51% in the demo. 

CBS Evening News had 3.744 million total viewers and 516,000 viewers in the demo for the week of August 4. The broadcast experienced modest drops compared to its competitors, with -2% in total viewers and -7% in the demo, compared to the previous week. Its year-ago week numbers saw the newscast record falls of -16% in total viewers and -11% in the demo. 

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD Current Week (w/o 8/4/25), Previous Week (w/o 7/28/25) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 8/5/24). Most Current Data Stream: 2024-2025 Season (9/23/24 – 8/10/25) and 2023-2024 Season (9/25/23 – 8/11/24). 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.