Why Evening News Ratings Are Dropping Across ABC, NBC, and CBS

The Current Landscape of Evening News Ratings

The week of April 7, 2025, was a challenging period for evening news broadcasts across major networks, with all three—ABC, NBC, and CBS—experiencing a noticeable week-to-week drop in viewership. ABC World News Tonight leads the pack with 7.48 million total viewers but still faces declines compared to the previous week.

ABC's Continued Dominance in Ratings

ABC World News Tonight, anchored by David Muir, averaged 7.484 million viewers and 1.020 million in the coveted Adults 25-54 demographic, experiencing slight decreases of 1% and 2%, respectively. When viewed against the same week in 2024, however, it showed slight year-over-year growth. This indicates that while the immediate outlook is slightly down, there is an underlying resilience in its overall performance, likely due to established viewership habits.

The NBC Performance: Steady Yet Flat

NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt secured the second position in overall rankings, garnering 6.089 million total viewers. The decline was slightly more pronounced at 1% for total viewers and 6% for the more coveted 25-54 demographic. Interestingly, it outperformed in a year-to-year comparison, sprouting a 2% increase in the key demographic. This resilience can be attributed to Holt's established credibility and strong anchor presence, particularly as the network prepares for a change in anchoring with Tom Llamas stepping in later this month.

Challenges Facing CBS Evening News

The CBS Evening News, broadcasting its updated flagship format, has struggled more substantially with viewer retention. Averaging just 3.739 million total viewers and 491,000 in the 25-54 demographic, it faced declines of 5% and a staggering 12% respectively. Notably, the ongoing changes have seen a year-over-year decline of 17% in total viewers and a 26% fall in the key demographic, raising critical questions about its strategic direction.

The Impact of External Factors on News Viewership

The decline in viewership can be attributed to various external factors, including the volatility in the stock market and recent tariff discussions. Despite these issues garnering significant headlines, they failed to translate into increased ratings for newscasts, indicating possible viewer fatigue during periods of constant news cycles. Executive-level decision-makers in businesses, especially those in tech and innovation, may find these declines relevant as they reflect broader socio-economic trends that can impact business forecasting.

What This Means for Network Strategies

As these three juggernauts of the evening news landscape recalibrate their strategies, decision-makers must take heed. Understanding demographic shifts—particularly in the behavior of millennial and Gen Z audiences—could reveal why traditional viewing continues to decline. These shifts inform broader media consumption habits that businesses must navigate in developing strategic marketing approaches.

Ultimately, the ratings downturn compels networks to innovate and redefine their engagement strategies. With a shifting viewing landscape that favors on-demand digital content, there are lessons to be learned from these drops. Remaining agile in their approach to storytelling, format, and delivery could help these networks reconnect with their audiences.

In conclusion, the gradual decline in viewers—especially in the vital 25-54 age demographic—suggests the urgent need for networks to reassess their programming and marketing strategies. Companies and executives looking to capitalize on emerging market trends must remain nimble in their approaches, fostering growth while navigating an increasingly competitive media landscape.