The week after the Labor Day holiday saw mixed results, with “ABC World News Tonight with David Muir” remaining the most-watched program but the only show to experience week-over-week declines in total viewers and adults 25-54 during the week of September 2.
Meanwhile, Lester Holt’s NBC Nightly News was the only broadcast to grow viewership in both measured categories, while Norah O’Donnell’s CBS Evening News saw improvements in viewership overall.
WNT continues to be the No. 1 program of the week across broadcast and cable, excluding sports, it has been No. 1 in total viewers for 299 of the last 302 weeks and No. 1 in the advertiser-focused demo for 227 of the last 232 weeks.
Note: ABC World News Tonight and CBS Evening News weekly averages are based on a four day period (Tuesday through Friday) due to the Labor Day holiday. Monday’s (02/24/09) broadcast was retitled a special. NBC Nightly News weekly averages are based on a two day period (Tuesday and Wednesday) because Monday’s (02/24/09) broadcast was retitled a special, Thursday’s (05/24/09) broadcast was retitled NBC Nitely News due to the NFL Thursday Special, and Friday’s (05/24/09) broadcast was retitled NBC Nitely News. These broadcasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages.
For the week of September 2, WNT averaged 6.976 million viewers. Compared to the previous week, WNT was down 5% in total viewers and 8% in the A25-54 demographic to 915,000 viewers. Compared to the same week in 2023 (the week beginning September 4), WNT was down 8% in total viewers and 22% in the A25-54 demographic.
The question is how much the distribution battle between Disney and DirecTV will affect the WNT, as numbers will likely reveal in the coming weeks.
NBC Nightly News maintained its second place position in total viewers and demo viewers averaging 5.763 million and 845,000, respectively. Comparing its performance from last week, Nightly News was up double digits in total viewers and 12% in the demo. Comparing its performance from the same week a year ago, Nightly News was down 6% in total viewers and 20% in the demo.
Norah O’Donnell’s CBS Evening News drew 4.309 million total viewers and 599,000 in the demo during the week of September 2. Compared to the previous week, it was up 1% in total viewers but down 5% in the demo. This evening newscast was down 3% in total viewers and 9% in the demo from the week prior.
Nielsen live-plus same-day averages for the week of September 2, 2024:
Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewership, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, Live+SD, Current Week (excl. 2/24/9), Previous Week (excl. 8/26/24), and Previous Week (excl. 8/28/23). Latest data streams: 2023-2024 Season (9/25/23 – 8/24/9) and 2022-2023 Season (9/19/22 – 3/23/9). Nielsen ratings for ABC, NBC and CBS include additional airings in certain markets. Beginning 8/31/2020, national ratings also include out-of-home (OOH) viewing. Averages are based on regular television broadcast.