ABC News’ “World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the top evening newscast in 2020 in Total Viewers (9.610 million) Adults 25-54 (1.926 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.311 million), based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research.
In fact, “World News Tonight” won the calendar year in all key target demos for the first time in 24 years – since 1996. In addition, “World News Tonight” stood as the most-watched evening newscast for the 4th year in a row – since 2017. Further, “World News Tonight” won the year for the first time in Adults 25-54 in 13 years and in Adults 18-49 in 24 years – since 2007 and 1996, respectively.
In 2020 in a span of 26 weeks from March to August, ABC News’ “World News Tonight with David Muir” aired the No. 1 telecast on all of broadcast and cable in 23 of the those weeks, including a consecutive 13-week run as the week’s No. 1 program from week of 6/1/20 through week of 8/24/20, to deliver the longest consecutive run of a program to stand as the week’s top program in nearly 26 years – since a 14-week streak by ABC’s “Home Improvement” from week of 8/8/94 though week of 11/7/94.
“World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (8.294 million, 1.763 million and 1.221 million, respectively) in 2020 by its largest Total Viewer year-lead (+1.316 million) in 25 years and biggest year-advantage in Adults 25-54 (+163,000) and Adults 18-49 (+90,000) in 24 years – since 1995 and 1996, respectively.
“World News Tonight” improved by double-digit percentages over 2019 in all key target demos: Total Viewers (+1.014 million/+12% – 9.610 million vs. 8.596 million), Adults 25-54 (+235,000/+14% – 1.926 million vs. 1.691 million) and Adults 18-49 (+160,000/+14% – 1.311 million vs. 1.151 million). In fact, “World News Tonight” had its most-watched year in 18 years and best Adults 25-54 performance in 5 years—since 2002 and 2015, respectively.
“World News Tonight” beat “CBS Evening News” (5.916 million, 1.107 million and 792,000, respectively) in 2020 by its biggest Total Viewer year-advantage (+3.694 million) in at least 29 years, its biggest Adults 25-54 lead (+819,000) in 24 years and largest Adults 18-49 margin (+519,000) in 15 years – since at least the start of Nielsen electronic database in September 1991, 1996 and 2005, respectively.
4th Quarter 2020
ABC News’ “World News Tonight with David Muir” won the 4th Quarter 2020 in Total Viewers (9.418 million) Adults 25-54 (1.832 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.293 million), based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research. In fact, “World News Tonight” won the 4th quarter across the board for the first time in 24 years – since 4Q96. In addition, “World News Tonight” posted an across the board victory for the 3rd quarter in a row. Further, the ABC evening newscast has won in Total Viewers for the last 15 quarters– since 2Q17.
“World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (7.940 million, 1.601 million and 1.121 million, respectively) by 1.478 million, by 231,000 Adults 25-54 and by 172,000 Adults 18-49. “World News Tonight” turned in its largest 4th quarter victory over “Nightly News” in 26 years in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 and in 25 years in Adults 25-54 – since 4Q94 and 4Q95, respectively. Looking at all quarters, “World News Tonight” saw its largest Total Viewer advantage in over 25 years and its biggest in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 in over 24 years – since 3Q95, 2Q96 and 1Q96, respectively.
“World News Tonight” (9.418 million, 1.832 million and 1.293 million, respectively) improved on the year-ago 4th quarter (8.613 million, 1.667 million and 1.137 million, respectively) in Total Viewers (+9%/+805,000), Adults 25-54 (+10%/+165,000) and Adults 18-49 (+14%/+156,000). “World News Tonight” drew its largest overall 4th quarter audience in 17 years and best Adults 25-54 performance in 3 years – since 4Q03 and 4Q17, respectively.
“World News Tonight” (9.417 million, 1.832 million and 1.293 million, respectively) posted across-the-board gains from the previous quarter (8.757 million, 1.691 million and 1.128 million, respectively, for 3Q20): Total Viewers (+8%/+661,000), Adults 25-54 (+8%/+141,000) and Adults 18-49 (+15%/+165,000).
“World News Tonight” beat the “CBS Evening News” (5.713 million, 1.057 million, and 769,000, respectively) by 3.705 million Total Viewers, by 775,000 Adults 25-54 and by 524,000 Adults 18-49, posting its largest 4th quarter lead in overall viewers in at least 29 years (since at least the start of Nielsen electronic database in the 1991-1992 season).
Week of December 21, 2020
ABC News’ “World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the evening’s No. 1 newscast in Total Viewers (9.576 million), Adults 25-54 (1.824 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.269 million) for the week of Dec. 21, 2020, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (7.963 million, 1.587 million and 1.137 million, respectively) by 1.613 million Total Viewers, by 237,000 Adults 25-54 and by 132,000 Adults 18-49.
“World News Tonight” increased its lead year to year Total Viewers (+95% – 1.613 million vs. 829,000), and Adults 25-54 (+597% – 237,000 vs. 34,000).
“World News Tonight” ranked as the evening’s No. 1 newscast for the last 39 weeks in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49. In addition, “World News Tonight” has won the last 109 weeks overall in Total Viewers.
“World News Tonight” delivered double-digit increases year to year in all key target demos: Total Viewers (+1.452 million/+18% – 9.576 million vs. 8.124 million), Adults 25-54 (+332,000/+22% – 1.824 million vs. 1.492 million) and Adults 18-49 (+157,000/+23% – 1.269 million vs. 1.031 million).
Season to date, “World News Tonight” (9.418 million) ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers at this point of the season for the 5th consecutive year, based on Most Current Data. In fact, “World News Tonight” is more than doubling its lead over “NBC Nightly News” (7.940 million) from the same point last season (+104% – 1.478 million vs. 724,000) to its largest season lead in 26 years—since the 1994-1995 season. “World News Tonight” is beating “CBS Evening News” (5.713 million) by 3.705 million, posting its biggest Total Viewer season advantage in at least 29 years (since at least the start of Nielsen electronic database in the 1991-1992 season).
“World News Tonight” is also No. 1 for the season, leading NBC by its largest margin in 25 years in Adults 25-54 (+231,000 – 1.832 million vs. 1.601 million) and in 26 years in Adults 18-49 (+172,000 – 1.293 million vs. 1.121 million) — since the 1995-1996 and the 1994-1995 seasons, respectively.
“World News Tonight” also leads “CBS Evening News” by its biggest advantage in 18 years in Adults 25-54 (+775,000 – 1.832 million vs. 1.057 million) and in 15 years in Adults 18-49 (+524,000 – 1.293 million vs. 769,000) – since the 2002-2003 and 2005-2006 season, respectively.
In addition, “World News Tonight” is improving in Total Viewers (+806,000/+9% – 9.418 million vs. 8.612 million), Adults 25-54 (+165,000/+10% – 1.832 million vs. 1.667 million) and Adults 18-49 (+156,000/+14% – 1.293 million vs. 1.137 million), compared to the same point last season. In fact, “World News Tonight” is seeing its most-watched season in 17 years and strongest Adults 25-54 performance in 3 years—since the 2003-2004 and the 2017-2018 seasons, respectively.
For the week, “World News Tonight” (9.576 million, 1.824 million and 1.269 million, respectively) outpaced “CBS Evening News” (5.741 million, 1.067 million and 822,000, respectively) by 3.835 million Total Viewers, by 757,000 Adults 25-54 and by 447,000 Adults 18-49.
NOTE: During the week of Christmas, “World News Tonight” was coded as a special on Thursday (12/24/19) and pre-empted for NBA on Friday (12/25/19); “CBS Evening News” was retitled to “CBS Evening Nws” on Wednesday (12/23/20) and was coded as specials on Thursday and Friday; and “NBC Nightly News” was coded as specials on Thursday and Friday. All specialed and retitled telecasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages. ABC’s and NBC’s weekly averages are based on three days (Mon-Wed), while CBS’ averages are based on two days (Mon-Tues).
ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” airs 6:30-7:00 p.m. EST on ABC. Almin Karamehmedovic is the executive producer of the broadcast.