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CBS Evening News sees more ratings growth in total viewers; slightly down on A25-54. Down -3% YoY.

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By Mark Mwachiro

March 11, 2025

 

The first week of March yielded mixed results for the three evening newscasts. The CBS Evening News was the only newscast to see week-to-week growth in total viewers, while NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt enjoyed positive movement in the Adults 25-54 demo.

 

As for World News Tonight with David Muir, the flagship ABC News newscast maintained its No. 1 position in both measured categories, but missed out on any week-to-week growth. It will be interesting to see whether the advent of daylight savings time impacts any of the three broadcasts— particularly CBS Evening News, which has seen some traction recently.

 

Note: The weekly averages of ABC World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News are based on four days (Monday, Wednesday – Friday), while CBS News’ averages are based on three days (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday). All three programs were retitled on Tuesday (03/04/2025) and CBS News’ Friday (03/07/24) broadcast was retitled to CBS Evening Nws. These broadcasts are excluded from the weekly and season averages.

 

ABC World News Tonight averaged 7.891 million total viewers and 1.064 A25-54 viewers for a flat result in the former category and a dip of -1% in the latter compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance alongside the same week in 2024 (the week of March 4), WNT was up +1% in total viewers, but fell -3% in the demo.

NBC Nightly News finished second in total viewers and the A25-54 crowd, averaging 6.393 million viewers and 952,000 viewers, respectively. Week-to-week, Nightly News was flat in total viewers and up +1% in the demo. Year-to-year, the newscast also remained flat in the former category and ticked upwards by +4% in the latter.

CBS Evening News saw 4.378 million total viewers and 623,000 viewers in the demo for a week-to-week gain of +2% in the former category and a -3% dip in the latter. Compared to 2024, the newscast’s numbers declined by -3% in both total viewers and the demo. 

	ABC	NBC	CBS
• Total Viewers:	7,891,000	6,393,000	4,378,000
• A25-54:	1,064,000	952,000	623,000

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Live + SD Current Week (w/o 3/3/25), Previous Week (w/o 2/24/25) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 3/4/24). Most Current Data Stream: 2024-2025 Season (9/23/24 – 3/9/25) and 2023-2024 Season (9/25/23 – 3/10/24). 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. 

 

The Evening News Plus should be carried by the network as well. Both half hours compliment each other and feels more complete than the 30 minute broadcast imho. Has more substance and more day of news. Could be an area that CBS could have a competitor to PBS NewsHour and maybe force NBC and ABC to follow along with the change.

8 hours ago, mre29 said:

 

I have a feeling Ali Velshi's being saved for when Lawrence O'Donnell retires.

God I wish they would reunite Velshi & Ruhle on Primetime

This is what happens always. The viewers always yell "gee we want a quality newscast". You give them an excellent broadcast and then they are like "lol sike not like that".

John Dickerson is the Harry Smith/Anthony Mason of CBS in this era

21 hours ago, MorningNews said:

That does seems particularly egregious. However I like them starting with the flu, this season has been pretty bad despite the lack of urgent news coverage around it.

I don't think it's particularly egregious. When Janet Shamlian introduced her piece with "as we made our way around the middle of the country reporting this week..." doesn't sound like a lack of news coverage or that it isn't on the daily record because the doctor said it was only wednesday. It's a look back on the week and it is part of the daily record. This is being overblown.

Reading on the comments online, the viewers liked the new format.

I enjoyed the broadcast. Hopefully CBS won't let their intrusive thoughts win lol. But yes, a very solid broadcast. I love the similarity to a local newscast, but national. And smart.

I am looking forward to see what CBS came up for this new era of the Evening News. I hope they don''t f it up. But it is CBS.

They aren't bad. They need to use the "correct" track. And com'on now KABC, give the 11PM to Jovana. It's time.

KPIX is going to get KCAL'd. About 8 weeks construction for the new set per KPIX GM on a linked in post.

I don't know where to post this, but Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, CBS News President, is stepping down from her post.

https://www.mediamoves.com/2024/07/ingrid-ciprian-matthews-announces-shell-step-down-as-cbs-news-president.html

Bell Media announced a major round of cuts in Canadian newsrooms, including the cancellation of all 12PM Newscasts with the exception of Toronto. With the exception of Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. More details here: https://www.thestar.com/business/ctv-cancelling-most-noon-and-weekend-newscasts-as-bell-cuts-4-800-jobs-heres-what/article_abe5d964-c6ab-11ee-800a-0b227e178666.html; https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/not-a-viable-business-anymore-bell-media-selling-21-b-c-radio-stations-amid-layoffs; https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/bell-media-ends-some-ctv-newscasts-sells-radio-stations-in-media-shakeup-amid-layoffs-1.6760935

Jose Cancela, the former President and GM of WKAQ-TV Telemundo PR has been promoted to President, Telemundo Stations Group for a second time. His first tenure was from 1992-1998. Succeeding him is Migdalia Figueroa, who was President and GM of WTMO Telemundo 31 Orlando, WRCD Telemundo 49 Tampa and WWDT Telemundo Fort Myers, effective immediately.

https://www.mediamoves.com/2024/01/jose-cancela-elevated-to-telemundo-stations-president-migdalia-figueroa-to-lead-wkaq.html

Wow this is very bizarre. Makes me sick. And they claim to be unbiased but who really can trust that?

On 11/18/2023 at 12:54 AM, C Block said:

The more I read Rich Lieberman, the more I'm convinced that he no longer has any sources. He is the equivalent of an elderly fanfic blogger but for local TV.

 

Lieberman doesn't see the ratings; I do. For the first two weeks of this month, KPIX was virtually tied with KGO for #2 at 6pm. I think their format and anchor changes have had a lot more of an impact than the branding change. I think adding news at 7pm, moving national news to 6:30, and putting Juliette Goodrich on the 6 and 7pm were all good ideas that made KPIX at least somewhat more competitive again. I'm not always sold on their unconventional leads and enterprise story ideas, but I suppose they're at least trying something different.

 

The most underperforming network O&O in that market though for sure is KNTV – literally hashmarks for their 11pm some nights. KTVU's Like It Or Not, a mindless show that costs no money to produce, regularly gets higher ratings at 11:30 than KNTV does for their 11pm news or the Tonight Show.

Who has higher ratings at 11PM? Telemundo or the english newscasts?

Canadian blog fagstein is reporting that globemedia will launch, today, November 13th an early edition of CTV National News to be anchored by Sandie Ronaldo. The newscast will be followed by the local, hour-long 6PM newscast. Here is the post: https://blog.fagstein.com/2023/11/02/ctv-national-news-at-530/

47 minutes ago, nycnewsjunkie said:

I’m don’t work at a station, just a casual viewer.
 

IMO, the graphics look sharp and are a massive improvement over what they replaced. My one criticism is that the L3s (especially the logo bug) take up a large chunk of the screen at all times, and a constant headline ticker isn’t really necessary most of the time. Otherwise, I’ve got no issues with them.

 

However, the music is really, *really* repetitive and dull, and it’s already become stale imo. I was hoping there would be more cuts of “Dimensional”, but it’s a really limited music package.

The station that uses Dimensional the best is CBS 5. I don't understand why the other O&O's don't use the full package like CBS 5 does.

Harry Porterfield passed away.

1 hour ago, wabceyewitness said:

Liz is on at 11, too, along with Joe. 

They have not just the weekend morning and noon issue, but the expectation that Bill will soon scale back and give up at least one newscast. 

Or maybe two? Have they had Sade and Joe anchor recently? I don't think Bill will give up the 6PM chair just yet, as Bill and Liz recently celebrated 20 years as the 6PM team. Unless Bill gives up the 6PM, and only will focus on the 5 & 11PM news?

1 hour ago, Glimmer said:

In a unique move, CBS LA is adding a second news director

Well that underscores Jennifer Pierce, doesn't it?

4 minutes ago, CircleWXYZ said:

Have my sources.  Again, it was just weird.  If it was up to the ND, it would’ve been on both stations.

How are their numbers doing?

Sounds like he was sacked from CBS. The two managers experiment didn't quite work for CBS News. Let's see what's in store for them.

1 hour ago, TonyN said:

I’m from the Sacramento viewing area. The channel is using the new black/white CBS 13 logo bug for its syndicated shows on air at the moment.

Welcome

10 hours ago, WCAUTVNBC10 said:

To add to the mess, I'm pretty sure that's an Enforcer cut being used as the bed for the headlines. 

Yes, it's the investigative theme. When I hear it, I picture WBBM though. I wouldn't mind if they keep it. It goes well with their hard news/investigative style for the past few years.