TV Ratings: ABC Evening News On Top For Season, May Sweeps

For the first time in 24 years, “World News Tonight”  is  America’s  No. 1 newscast in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 during the broadcast season —since the 1995-1996 season.

During the 2019-20 broadcast season, “World News Tonight” (9.648 million, 1.957 million and 1.331 million) outperformed NBC Nightly News” (8.586 million, 1.886 million and 1.318 million) by 1.062 million Total Viewers, by 71,000 Adults 25-54 and by 13,000 Adults 18-49, based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research.

According to an ABC press release, “World News Tonight” ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers for the 4th season in a row, doubling its lead over “NBC Nightly News” from last season  (+100% - 1.062 million vs. 532,000) to its largest season lead in 24 years—since the 1995-1996 season. “World News Tonight”  beat “CBS Evening News” (6.074 million) by 3.574 million, posting its biggest Total Viewer season advantage in at least 28 years  (since at least the start of Nielsen electronic database in the 1991-1992 season).

In addition, “World News Tonight” finished No. 1 for the season in Adults 25-54, leading NBC by its largest news demo margin (+71,000 - 1.957 million vs. 1.886 million) in 24 years and taking the top spot for the first time in 12 years—since the 1995-1996 and the 2007-2008 seasons, respectively. “World News Tonight” also outdelivered NBC in Adults 18-49 (+13,000 - 1.331 million vs. 1.318 million) for the first time in 24 years—since the 1995-1996 season.

World News Tonight” also improved in Total Viewers  (+814,000/+9% - 9.648 million vs. 8.834 million),  Adults 25-54  (+145,000/+8% - 1.957 million vs. 1.812 million)  and Adults 18-49  (+115,000/+9% - 1.331 million vs. 1.216 million)  compared to the 2018-19 season.   In fact, “World News Tonight” saw its most-watched season in 16 years and strongest Adults 25-54 performance in 5 years –  since the 2003-2004 and the 2014-2015 seasons, respectively.

➤May 2020 Sweep

ABC News’ “World News Tonight with David Muir” won the May 2020 sweep across the board for the first time in 13 years (since May 2007): Total Viewers (10.221 million), Adults 25-54 (2.026 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.361 million), based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight’s” win marked its 15th consecutive sweep victory in Total Viewers and 6th straight win in Adults 25-54 – since November 2016 and February 2019, respectively

“World News Tonight” beat “NBC Nightly News” (9.176 million and 1.941 million, respectively) increasing its May sweep leads year to year in Total Viewers (+29% - 1.045 million vs. 810,000) and Adults 25-54 (+4150% - 85,000 vs. 2,000) to its largest during the month in 24 years and 13 years, respectively – since May 1996 and May 2007, respectively. In addition, “World News Tonight” won the May sweep in Adults 18-49 for the first time in 5 years, leading NBC by its largest lead in 13 years (+35,000 – 1.361 vs. 1.326 million) – since May 2015 and May 2007, respectively.

“World News Tonight” posted gains on the year-ago May sweep (8.285 million, 1.602 million and 1.074 million, respectively for May 2019) in Total Viewers (+23%/+1.936 million), Adults 25-54 (+26%/+424,000) and Adults 18-49 (+27%/+287,000). “World News Tonight” turned on its largest overall audience during a May sweep in 24 years and strongest Adults 25-54 performance in 9 years – since May 1996 and May 2011, respectively.

For the 3rd sweep in a row, “World News Tonight” grew from the previous sweep (10.221 million, 2.026 million and 1.361 million, respectively for November 2019) in Total Viewers (+11%/+1.003 million), Adults 25-54 (+12%/+212,000) and Adults 18-49 (+15%/+176,000), drawing its largest overall sweep audience in over 16 years – since February 2004.

“World News” beat CBS’ “Evening News” (6.401 million, 1.131 million and 790,000, respectively) by 3.820 million Total Viewers, by 895,000 Adults 25-54 and by 571,000 Adults 18-49 during the May 2020 sweep, seeing its largest overall viewer advantage during any sweep in at least 28 years  (since at least the start of Nielsen electronic database in the 1991-1992 season).