ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” remained the nation’s most-watched evening newscast during the week of April 6, pulling 8.417 million total viewers and extending its lead over rivals NBC and CBS to the widest margin in more than three decades, according to Nielsen ratings data published Tuesday by ADWEEK TVNewser.
Mr. Muir’s broadcast outpaced “NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas” by 31%, drawing nearly 2 million more viewers and more than doubling CBS in the key Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 demographics. Barrett Media reported that the total viewer gap between ABC and NBC is now the largest since the 1994-1995 season.
Year over year, ABC’s evening newscast grew 8% in total viewers compared to the same week in 2025, adding 646,000 viewers, while also rising 7% in the Adults 25-54 demo, according to an ABC News press release citing Nielsen figures.
NBC and CBS told a different story. “NBC Nightly News” averaged 6.434 million viewers for the week, a 4% drop from the prior week and a 13% decline in the Adults 25-54 demo. CBS fared worse: “CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil” pulled just 3.807 million total viewers, falling 8% week over week and 16% in the key demo, leaving it more than 4.6 million viewers behind ABC’s flagship broadcast.
The week’s most-watched single broadcast came April 10, when ABC aired live coverage of Artemis II’s return to Earth. Mr. Muir hosted the hourlong special beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET, which drew 9.77 million total viewers and 2.362 million in the Adults 25-54 demo — leading all broadcast and cable networks for the night. Fox News followed with 4.999 million viewers, CBS News drew 4.585 million, and NBC’s space coverage brought in 3.912 million.
Season to date, “World News Tonight” ranks No. 1 in total viewers for the 10th consecutive year, averaging 8.400 million, according to the ABC News press release.
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