Wednesday’s edition of WNT was its strongest single-day telecast in the demo since March 3, as it had 1.233 million viewers.

Meanwhile, NBC Nightly News was the only evening newscast not to gain viewers in either of the measured categories. It was a week when news networks covered the Charlie Kirk shooting. 

Note: The weekly averages of ABC News are based on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday), while NBC News’ averages are based on four days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday). Monday’s (09/08/25) and Thursday’s (09/11/25) World News Tonight broadcasts were retitled to WNT-ABC due to the NFL and impacts from the special reports on the Charlie Kirk shooting, respectively. Wednesday’s NBC Nightly News was preempted due to a special report on the Charlie Kirk shooting. These broadcasts were excluded from the weekly and season averages.

According to live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir averaged 7.133 million total viewers and 1.002 million Adults 25-54 demo viewers for the week of Sept. 8. It declined by -1% in total viewers but rose by +12% in the demo compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance to the same week in 2024 (the week beginning Sept. 9), WNT was up by +3% in total viewers and +4% in the demo—the only evening newscast to register growth in both categories in the year-over-year comparisons.

In the No. 2 position in total viewers and the demo was NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas, averaging 5.655 million and 767,000 viewers, respectively. The broadcast was flat in total viewers but down -6% in the A25-54 demo. When comparing its performance to the same week a year ago, Nightly News fell by -6% in total viewers and -13% in the demo. 

CBS Evening News stood tall for the week of Sept. 8 as the newscast had 3.872 million total viewers and 574,000 viewers in the demo. The broadcast was up by +4% in total viewers and +11% in the demo compared to the previous week. It was the only one with across-the-board growth. Its year-ago week numbers saw the newscast decline by -12% in total viewers and -13% in the demo.  

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD Current Week (w/o 9/8/25), Previous Week (w/o 9/1/25) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 9/2/24). Most Current Data Stream: 2024-2025 Season (9/23/24 – 9/14/25) and 2023-2024 Season (9/25/23 – 9/15/24). 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.