For the 21st week in a row, “World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 program in Total Viewers (8.508 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of Aug 31, 2026, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.
- ""World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 newscast in all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (8.508 million) and Adults 18-49 (833,000).
- “World News Tonight” beat “NBC Nightly News” (6.988 million and 800,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+22%/+1.520 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4%/+33,000).
- “World News Tonight” improved by double digits on the same week last year in Total Viewers (+16%/+1.190 million – 8.508 million vs. 7.318 million), Adults 25-54 (+31%/+258,000 – 1.102 million vs. 844,000) and Adults 18-49 (+40%/+238,000 – 833,000 vs. 595,000), posting year-to-year gains for the ninth consecutive week.
- “World News Tonight” (8.508 million, 1.102 million and 833,000, respectively) more than doubled its lead over “CBS Evening News” (4.037 million, 544,000 and 393,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+111%/+4.471 million), Adults 25-54 (+103%/+558,000) and Adults 18-49 (+112%/+440,000).