While the first week of October marks the high stakes homestretch of the 2024 presidential election, all three evening news broadcasts experienced double-digit drops in total viewers and the advertiser-favored Adults 25-54 demo.

The declines were especially painful for CBS News, which hosted last week’s vice presidential debate between Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. J.D. Vance. Although the network saw an influx of viewers that night, the CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell did not directly benefit on the day of and the day after the debate. 

Note: The weekly averages of ABC World News Tonight are based on two days (Wednesday – Thursday), while CBS News and NBC News’ averages are based on four days (Monday, Wednesday – Friday. Monday’s (09/30/24) broadcast was retitled to WNT-ABC due to Monday Night Football. Due to the vice presidential debate, Tuesday’s (10/01/24)  broadcasts were retitled to WNT-ABC, NBC Nitely News, and CBS Evening Nws. Finally, Friday’s (10/04/24) broadcast was also retitled to WNT-ABC. These broadcasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages.

ABC World News with David Muir averaged 7.068 million total viewers and 940,000 A25-54 viewers for the week of September 30. It was down by -5% in the former category and -10% in the latter compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance alongside the same week in 2023 (the week of Oct. 2), WNT was down -6% in total viewers and -15% in the demo.

NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt finished second in both measured categories, averaging 5.681 million total viewers and 813,000 A25-54 viewers. That translates to week-to-week declines of -5% and -12%, respectively. Year-to-year, Nightly News was down -11% in total viewers and -17% in the demo.

CBS Evening News saw 4.341 million total viewers and 601,000 viewers in the demo, for respective declines of -6% and -12% compared to the previous week. Looking back at 2023, it was down -6% in total viewers and -9% in the demo.

Nielsen live-plus-same-day averages for the week of September 30, 2024: