Evening News Ratings Shift: Who's Gaining?

Tony Dokoupil's initial three months as anchor of the CBS Evening News have presented a complex picture in viewer ratings. While the newscast saw an improvement in total viewers and the key 25-54 demographic in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, it declined from the same period in the previous year. The overall hierarchy of network evening news broadcasts, however, has remained consistent.

ABC's World News Tonight, led by David Muir, continues its reign as the most-watched newscast. It experienced growth in total viewers over the last quarter and compared to the first quarter of 2025. NBC Nightly News With Tom Llamas also posted gains across the board, with significant boosts attributed to viewership from the Winter Olympics. Final ratings for the first quarter are subject to minor adjustments as the official end date approaches.