The post-Memorial Day numbers for the three evening newscasts were not memorable, as they all trended downward in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo.
After some weeks of positive momentum, CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil saw the deepest declines in either of the measured categories, posting a double-digit drop in the prized demo for the week of May 25.
Note: The weekly averages of ABC News, NBC News, and CBS News are based on different periods: ABC News and CBS News’ averages are based on three days (Tuesday – Thursday), while NBC News’ is based on two days (Wednesday – Friday). All three broadcasts were coded as specials due to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday (05/25/2025). On Tuesday (5/26/26) and Thursday (5/28/26), NBC Nightly News was retitled to NBC Nitely News. On Friday (5/29/26), World News Tonight was retitled to WNT-ABC, and CBS Evening News was retitled to CBS Evening Nws. These broadcasts were excluded from the weekly and season averages.
According to national live+same-day big data plus program ratings from Nielsen, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir averaged 7.824 million total viewers and 961,000 Adults 25-54 demo viewers for the week of May 25. The evening newscast was down by -4% among total viewers and -1% among A25-54 viewers compared to the previous week. Looking at its performance during the same week in 2025* (the week beginning May 26), WNT was up +11% in total viewers and +9% in the demo.
NBC Nightly News finished in second place in total viewers and the demo, averaging 5.955 million and 800,000 viewers, respectively. Compared to the previous week, Nightly News was down by -2% in total viewers and -8% in the demo. When comparing its performance to the same week a year ago, Nightly News was up by +4% in total viewers but was down -4% in the demo—the only newscast with a decline within this yearly comparison.
CBS Evening News finished the week of May 25 with 3.787 million total viewers and 493,000 demo viewers. CBS News’ newscast was down -6% in total viewers and -19% in the demo compared to the previous week—the only network to fall by double-digits in either of the measurements. Its year-ago week numbers showed the newscast growing by +5% among total viewers and +1% in the demo.
*Please note that year-over-year comparisons are based on Nielsen Big Data+Panel (2026) vs. Panel (2025) measurements.
May 25, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
| ABC | NBC | CBS | |
| • Total Viewers: | 7,824,000 | 5,955,000 | 3,787,000 |
| • A25-54: | 961,000 | 800,000 | 493,000 |
