‘World News Tonight With David Muir’ Is the #1 Program in the U.S. on All of Broadcast and Cable — in Total Viewers and Adults 25–54 — Most-Watched Week in 5 Months

“World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 program of the week in Total Viewers (8.521 million) and Adults 25-54 (1.659 million) on all of broadcast and cable television (excluding sports and syndication).

“World News Tonight” ranked as the No. 1 evening newscast across all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (8.521 million), Adults 25-54 (1.659 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.159 million) for the week of Aug. 30, 2021, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight” beat “NBC Nightly News” (7.116 million, 1.357 million and 945,000, respectively) by 1.405 million Total Viewers, by 302,000 Adults 25-54 and by 214,000 Adults 18-49.  “World News Tonight” has won the last 145 weeks in Total Viewers. 

 

“World News Tonight” increased its lead over NBC from the previous week in Total Viewers (+17% – 1.405 million vs. 1.196 million) and Adults 18-49 (+9% – 214,000 vs. 196,000).

 

“World News Tonight” widen its margins over NBC year to year in Total Viewers (+34% – 1.405 million vs. 1.046 million), Adults 25-54 (+167% – 302,000 vs. 113,000) and Adults 18-49 (+149% – 214,000 vs. 86,000).

 

For the 4th week running, “World News Tonight” posted week-to-week increases across the board: Total Viewers (+5%/+434,000 – 8.521 million vs. 8.087 million), Adults 25-54 (+6%/+95,000 – 1.659 million vs. 1.564 million) and Adults 18-49 (+10%/+106,000 – 1.159 million vs. 1.053 million).  In fact, “World News Tonight” saw its most-watched week in 5 months — since w/o 3/15/21.

 

“World News Tonight” improved on the same week last year in Adults 25-54 (+3%/+51,000 – 1.659 million vs. 1.608 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4%/+41,000 – 1.159 million vs. 1.118 million).

 

Season to date, “World News Tonight” (8.777 million) is ranking No. 1 in Total Viewers for the 5th consecutive season, based on Most Current Data. In fact, the ABC evening newscast is increasing its lead over “NBC Nightly News” (7.349 million) from the same point last season (+29% – 1.428 million vs. 1.1107 million) to its largest season lead in 26 years — since the 1994-1995 season. “World News Tonight” is beating “CBS Evening News” (5.424 million) by 3.353 million.

 

“World News Tonight” is ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the 2nd season in a row. “World News Tonight” is leading NBC by its largest margin in Adults 25-54 (+274,000 – 1.695 million vs. 1.421 million) in 25 years and in Adults 18-49 (+194,000 – 1.181 million vs. 987,000) in 26 years — since the 1995-1996 and the 1994-1995 seasons, respectively.

 

For the week, “World News Tonight” (8.521 million, 1.659 million and 1.159 million, respectively) beat “CBS Evening News” (5.162 million, 936,000 and 649,000, respectively) by 3.359 million Total Viewers, by 723,000 Adults 25-54 and by 510,000 Adults 18-49. In fact, “World News Tonight” increased its lead over the CBS program week to week in both Adults 25-54 (+11% – 723,000 vs. 649,000) and Adults 18-49 (+14% – 510,000 vs. 448,000) to its largest in 8 weeks — since w/o 7/5/21.

 

NOTE: Due to the Labor Day weekend, on Friday (9/3/21), “World News Tonight” was retitled to “Wrld News Tonite,” “CBS Evening News” was retitled to “CBS Evening Nws,” and “NBC Nightly News” was retitled to “NBC Nitely News.”  ABC’s, CBS’ and NBC’s averages are based on 4 days (Mon-Thurs).

 

ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” airs 6:30-7:00 p.m. EDT on ABC. Almin Karamehmedovic is the executive producer of the broadcast.

 

EVENING NEWS (Week of Aug. 30, 2021):

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD Current Week (w/o 8/30/21), Previous Week (w/o 8/23/21) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 8/31/20). Most Current: 2020 -2021 Season (9/21/20-9/5/21) and 2019-2020 Season (9/23/13-9/6/20). 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.

 

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ABC News Media Relations
Elizabeth Russo
(917) 373-6418
elizabeth.russo@abc.com

 

Pons Rongavilla
ponciano.rongavilla@abc.com