‘ABC World News Tonight’ No. 1 atop rivals NBC and CBS: Nielsen

‘ABC World News Tonight’ No. 1 atop rivals NBC and CBS: Nielsen

ABC’s “World News Tonight” reclaimed its perch as the nation’s most watched nightly newscast across all demographics last week, though it reportedly suffered a “massive meltdown” involving anchor David Muir on Tuesday.

His program drew 9 million whole viewers during the week of Jan. 19 — tops in all of broadcast and cable, (*1*)according to Nielsen rankings.

“World News Tonight” beat rivals “NBC Nightly News” and “CBS Evening News” in the key 25-54 age demographic favored by advertisers, figures confirmed.

David Muir anchors ABC’s “World News Tonight,” which reclaimed the top spot in whole viewers and key demographics during the week of Jan. 19, according to Nielsen.

While Disney-owned ABC News hailed the achievement as “the most commanding weekly performance in nearly six years,” Muir’s broadcast skilled a major glitch on Tuesday.

As the newscast bought underway, he alerted viewers to a report from on-site reporter Matt Rivers in Minneapolis.

Instead of playing a ready package deal from Rivers, the broadcast confirmed a collection of flashes adopted by Muir’s reappearance, according to the Status publication.

The anchor then regarded to play a separate package deal from correspondent Victor Oquendo, however technical difficulties as soon as again ensued and the section didn’t air, Status reported.

Muir then went to meteorologist Ginger Zee for a climate report.

“Obviously this is what happens with live television from time to time,” a composed Muir told viewers.

According to Status, people familar with the state of affairs described the chaotic scene as a “massive meltdown.”

Tom Llamas anchors NBC’s “Nightly News,” which not too long ago notched a uncommon weekly victory over ABC in the key 25-54 demographic. NBC

A source aware of the state of affairs told The Post that “everyone gets hit with technical gremlins.”

“David stayed calm and carried on with the show. It’s what you do.”

Muir and his bosses can still take solace of their rankings win from last week.

NBC’s “Nightly News” completed a distant second to ABC last week, averaging 6.9 million whole viewers for Jan. 19 to 25, according to Nielsen data.

ABC’s benefit over NBC totaled more than 2.1 million viewers for the week, its widest margin in practically six years.

ABC World News Tonight and David Muir just had a catastrophe of a start to the present – as not one, however two packages do not air. Look at his face, he isn’t happy. 👀 pic.twitter.com/RSSTgxJXR2— Gunz (@TheGunzPresent) January 27, 2026

In the 25-54 demo, ABC averaged 1.09 million viewers, topping NBC’s 998,000 — a distinction of just 90,000 viewers.

Earlier in January, Tom Llamas’ “NBC Nightly News” narrowly beat Muir’s broadcast in the prized demographic during a major breaking-news week.

Last week, Llamas beat Muir in the 25-54 demo on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Nielsen data. Llamas’s Wednesday broadcast topped Muir in the demo by 3,000 viewers.

The Thursday version of “Nightly News” edged out “World News Tonight” by 106,000 younger grownup viewers, according to Nielsen figures.

CBS remained firmly in third place, averaging about 4.9 million whole viewers for the week, according to Nielsen.

Tony Dokoupil anchors the newly revamped “CBS Evening News,” which has posted double-digit development in whole viewers and the 25-54 demographic in its first weeks with him at the helm, according to Nielsen data. CBS by way of Getty Images

In the 25-54 demo, “CBS Evening News” drew about 675,000 viewers, nicely behind ABC and still wanting NBC’s performance.

New anchor Tony Dokoupil’s tenure has gotten off to a rocky start. During his first week in the anchor chair, the “CBS Evening News” skilled an on-air mishap involving a teleprompter issue that briefly disrupted the broadcast and drew consideration on social media.

While the downside was shortly corrected and CBS downplayed the incident as a routine live-television glitch, it added to the scrutiny surrounding Dokoupil’s high-profile debut as the network works to stabilize the long-struggling night newscast.

An on-air crying episode also drew jeers.

Nonetheless, a CBS News release touted Dokoupil’s double-digit development in whole viewers — and in the 25-54 demo — in comparison with its 2025-26 season-to-date common.

Muir’s broadcast last week generated a median of 9 million whole viewers. Getty Images

CBS famous that its 4.9 million whole viewers was 21% increased than its season common so far.

The program was up 16% in whole viewers and the key demo in contrast with the prior week.

During Dokoupil’s first three weeks, “CBS Evening News” has averaged 4.4 million viewers, a ten% enchancment over its season common, with 597,000 adults ages 25-54, a 21% soar.

Dokoupil’s Jan. 19 broadcast drew 6.4 million whole viewers, the highest whole for the present in 5 years — though that attributed to NBC pre-empting its newscast with NBA basketball.

The broadcast has also generated 193 million views across social platforms, alongside a 26% soar in YouTube viewing minutes and a 64% improve in story consumption on CBSNews.com.

ABC News and NBC News declined to remark. The Post has reached out to CBS News.

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