Despite the drama at its parent company, the reimagined CBS Evening News had a good week. It was the only evening newscast to record week-to-week gains in both total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo for the week of June 2.
Launched in January, CBS News’ flagship evening newscast has seen more upward movement than downward movement in the last few months in both of the measured categories, signaling that more viewers may be becoming comfortable with the show’s format, which has been adjusted as it matures.
The just-concluded week—which saw political fireworks erupt between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk—also gave ABC World News Tonight with David Muir a lift in the advertiser-coveted demo.
Meanwhile, NBC Nightly News began its Tom Llamas era as the only broadcast to record week-to-week declines across the board. It did see better year-to-year results than its rivals, though, avoiding declines in either measured category.
Note: The weekly average of ABC News is based on four days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday). Thursday’s (06/05/25) broadcast was retitled to WNT-ABC due to Game 1 of the NBA Finals. This broadcast is excluded from the weekly and season averages.
According to live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen, WNT averaged 6.997 million total viewers and 907,000 A25-54 viewers. That translates to a -1% dip in the former category and a +3% bump in the latter compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance alongside the same week in 2024 (the week beginning June 3), WNT was down -1% in both total viewers and the demo.
NBC Nightly News finished at No. 2 in total viewers and the demo, averaging 5.449 million viewers and 771,000 viewers, respectively. Compared to Lester Holt’s final week in the anchor’s chair, the newscast saw declines of -5% in total viewers and -7% in the demo. Year-to-year, Nightly News was flat in both measured categories.
NBC News also notes that 27% of the total viewer audience that saw Llamas’ first two broadcasts had not watched Nightly News in the last five weeks.
Finally, the CBS Evening News finished in third place with 3.903 million total viewers and 518,000 demo viewers. Week-to-week, the broadcast was up +8% in the former category and +6% in the latter. Year-to-year it declined by -8% in total viewers and -11% in the demo.
| ABC | NBC | CBS | |
| • Total Viewers: | 6,997,000 | 5,449,000 | 3,903,000 |
| • A25-54: | 907,000 | 771,000 | 518,000 |
