‘NBC Nightly News’ posts April viewership gains, extends year-over-year growth

First on NCS: “NBC Nightly News” has delivered year-over-year audience growth in April, marking 12 consecutive weeks of gains and maintaining its position as the only evening newscast to grow across key measures this season.

The program averaged 943,000 viewers in the adults 25-54 demographic and 652,000 in adults 18-49, according to Nielsen data for April 2026, with one day of data remaining in the ratings period.

Total viewership for “Nightly” has averaged 6.5 million in April, with “ABC World News Tonight” at 8,415,000 and “CBS Evening News” at 3,865,000, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel, live plus same day. 

“NBC Nightly News” led “Evening News” in both demos, with advantages of 447,000 viewers in adults 25-54 and 298,000 in adults 18-49.

At CBS, the retooled “Evening News” has yet to translate into sustained ratings gains under Tony Dokoupil’s tenure, with the program sitting at 3.8 million viewers in April, with 496,000 in the key demo. This mark puts Dokoupil below the previous iteration of the broadcast, hosted by John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois.

“Nightly” also narrowed its gap with “World News Tonight” in both categories compared with a year earlier.

Year over year, “NBC Nightly News” grew 21% in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. That outpaced ABC’s increases of 7% and 10%, respectively, and CBS’ gains of 0.1% and 7%.

In total viewers, “NBC Nightly News” increased 6% from a year earlier, reaching its largest April audience in four years and extending its lead over CBS to more than 2.6 million viewers.

Advertisement

The April performance also marked the program’s best gap with ABC in seven years and its largest advantage over CBS in six years across key demographics. It posted its strongest three-network share in more than a decade in adults 25-54 and in six years among adults 18-49.

In April, “Nightly News” anchor Tom Llamas launched the “Great Americans” series, a weekly Friday segment highlighting individuals who have made notable contributions to their communities ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary.