ABC, NBC Evening News Ratings Rise in Q2 2026

In the second quarter of 2026, ABC and NBC reported gains in viewership for their respective evening news broadcasts. ABC's "World News Tonight" and NBC's "Nightly News" both experienced audience increases compared to the same period in the previous year. CBS's "Evening News" also saw a modest uptick in its ratings, though the increase was less pronounced than that of its competitors.

These figures, released by the networks as the first half of 2026 concluded, highlight a competitive landscape for traditional broadcast news. While specific percentage increases were not universally disclosed by all networks in initial statements, the general trend indicates a stabilization or growth in viewership for these flagship programs. The data suggests that despite the proliferation of digital news sources, a significant portion of the audience continues to rely on network television for their evening news consumption.

Fox News, a cable news giant, was also mentioned in the context of its performance against these broadcast networks, though details of its specific quarter-over-quarter comparison were not elaborated upon in the provided context. The ongoing competition among these outlets underscores the enduring importance of the evening news slot in shaping public discourse and informing the electorate. Further analysis of detailed ratings reports from Nielsen or other industry trackers would provide a more granular understanding of the precise audience shifts and market share dynamics.