TV Ratings: Young Sheldon Finale Is Top Draw

None of the cable news networks experienced week-to-week growth in either of the measured categories during primetime and total day. However, Fox News remained flat in the advertiser-coveted Adults 25-54 demo in primetime—the only good news to emerge from this period.

TV Newser reports Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of May 13 saw FNC average 1.991 million total viewers and 186,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down in total viewers by -1% and flat in the A25-54 demo relative to the week prior. In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.296 million total viewers and 139,000 demo viewers, which translates to week-to-week drops of -1% and -5%, respectively.

Among all the basic cable networks, FNC remained in third place in total primetime viewers and sixth in the primetime demo. In total day, the network held its No. 1 position in total viewers and once again captured third place in the total day demo.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.148 million total viewers and 111,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week. The network fell by -4% in total viewers and -5% in the demo compared to the week prior.  MSNBC remained the No. 4 cable network in total primetime viewers and dropped one spot to 17th place in the demo. For total day, it remained as the No. 2 network in total viewers and dropped one spot from eighth to ninth in the demo.

CNN averaged 484,000 total primetime viewers and 83,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo during primetime for the week. Placed alongside the previous week, the network dropped -6% in total viewers and -15% in the demo. CNN dropped one spot to 12th place in primetime with total viewers and fell five spots in the demo to 24th place from the previous week. For total day, the network remained at No. 5 in total viewers and fell from ninth to 10th place in the demo..

Fox had 12 out of the 15 most-watched cable news shows of the week, led by The Five (3.063 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET). MSNBC took the remaining three spots, led by Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace (1.691 million viewers at 4 p.m. ET), which came in at No. 8.

Gutfeld! (251,000 viewers at 10 p.m. ET) reclaimed the top spot in the A25-54 demo, as Fox News claimed 13 of the top 15 cable news shows overall. MSNBC’s Deadline: White House (152,000 viewers at 5 p.m. ET) came in at 12th place.

📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWS

ABC's David Muir, CBS' Norah O'Donnell,NBC's Lester Holt

“World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 newscast on all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (7.192 million), Adults 25-54 (988,000) and Adults 18-49 (659,000) during the week of May 13, 2024, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight” defeated “NBC Nightly News” (5.794 million, 785,000 and 513,000, respectively) by 1.398 million Total Viewers, by 203,000 Adults 25-54 and by 146,000 Adults 18-49, respectively.

“World News Tonight” widened its margins over “NBC Nightly News” week to week in Total Viewers (+5% – 1.398 million vs. 1.336 million), Adults 25-54 (+34% – 203,000 vs. 152,000) and Adults 18-49 (+11% – 146,000 vs. 131,000).

“World News Tonight” was up over the prev59,000 vs. 654,000), standing as the only evening newscast to grow week to week in both Adult demos.

“World News Tonight” has won the last 285 of 286 weeks in Total Viewers, including the last 129 weeks and 213 of the last 216 in Adults 25-54.

“World News Tonight” is ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the 5th consecutive season. “World News Tonight” is leading NBC in Adults 25-54 (+123,000 – 1.104 million vs. 981,000) and in Adults 18-49 (+97,000 – 753,000 vs. 656,000). In addition, “World News Tonight” is leading “CBS Evening News” (691,000 and 468,000, respectively) by 413,000 Adults 25-54 and by 285,000 Adults 18-49.

For the week, “World News Tonight” (7.192 million, 988,000 and 659,000, respectively) beat “CBS Evening News” (4.281 million, 612,000 and 411,000, respectively) by 2.911 million Total Viewers, by 376,000 Adults 25-54 and by 348,000 Adults 18-49.

📺TV SHOW RATINGS RANKER

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Sunday, May 19, 2024. The audience figures are derived from the latest Nielsen daily, weekly, or monthly P2+ program audience averages, whichever is the most recently available within the past seven-day window.