Evening Newscast Ratings: Q2 2026 Performance and Weekly Trends

For the week ending June 22, 2026, *ABC World News Tonight* maintained its position as the most-watched evening newscast, though all three major network programs—ABC, NBC, and CBS—faced overall declines when analyzed across the second quarter of 2026. According to Nielsen Media Research data, the second quarter saw quarter-over-quarter drops in both total viewership and the advertiser-coveted Adults 25-54 demographic across the board, reflecting a relatively quiet news cycle.

How the Networks Performed in Q2 2026

The second quarter of 2026 underscored a challenging landscape for traditional evening news. All three networks reported declines in total viewers and the 25-54 demographic compared to the first quarter of the year.

* ABC World News Tonight: Averaged 8.2 million total viewers and 1.01 million in the 25-54 demo. While it saw a 6% drop in total viewers compared to Q1, it extended its lead in total viewership, marking seven years of quarterly wins.
* NBC Nightly News: Averaged 6.347 million total viewers and 923,000 in the 25-54 demo. The program experienced a 9% decline in total viewers and a 12% drop in the demo compared to the previous quarter.
* CBS Evening News: Averaged 3.9 million total viewers and 535,000 in the 25-54 demo. This represented a 9% decrease in total viewers and a 1% decline in the demo from the first quarter.

Despite these quarterly dips, year-over-year comparisons present a different picture. Compared to the second quarter of 2025, *ABC World News Tonight* grew by 13% in total viewers, *NBC Nightly News* grew by 10% in total viewers and 12% in the A25-54 demo, and *CBS Evening News* saw a 2% increase in total viewers and 3% among A25-54 viewers.

Weekly Ratings for the Week of June 22

During the final week of June, performance metrics showed mixed results as networks navigated varying anchor lineups and shifting audience interest.

* ABC World News Tonight: Averaged 7.528 million total viewers and 955,000 in the 25-54 demo. While total viewership fell 5% from the previous week, the program saw a 3% gain in the demo. The network widened its lead over NBC in the demo to 65,000 viewers.
* NBC Nightly News: Averaged 6.341 million total viewers and 890,000 in the 25-54 demo. The program remained flat in total viewers compared to the prior week but saw a 4% decline in the demo. Tom Llamas anchored on Monday, with Hallie Jackson anchoring the remaining days.
* CBS Evening News: Averaged 4.015 million total viewers and 576,000 in the 25-54 demo. It was the only program to record gains in both categories during this week, rising 2% in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo.

What Drove These Trends?

The decline in quarterly ratings is largely attributed to a lack of major, breaking news events that typically drive sustained viewership. The relative stability of the news cycle during the second quarter contributed to the broad, industry-wide contraction in television news consumption.

While the networks face immediate pressure from quarterly fluctuations, the year-over-year growth for all three broadcasts suggests that evening news remains a primary source of information for a significant segment of the American audience. As the networks look toward the third quarter, they will likely focus on strategies to stabilize the 25-54 demographic, which remains the primary benchmark for advertising revenue.