ABC Wins Nightly News With Fast-Moving Show, Young Anchor
- David Muir’s updated take is a surprise hit with old viewers
- Together broadcasters’ newscasts far outdraw cable TV’s stars
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ABC’s evening news program, “World News Tonight,” took the lead in total viewers from NBC’s “Nightly News” for the first time in 21 years with a fast-paced show that’s proved surprisingly popular with older audiences.
Hosted by David Muir, “World News Tonight” drew an average 8.3 million viewers a night in the past 12 months, according to Nielsen data from the network, compared with 8.2 million for second place NBC. NBC’s “Nightly News” with Lester Holt is still tops in the 25-to-54-year-old group favored by advertisers, though its lead shrank. The “CBS Evening News,” which reassigned anchor Scott Pelley earlier this year, was third with 6.58 million viewers.