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The network evening news is in flux: Why an American TV institution is under pressure

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As a passionate cinephile of journalism, I can’t help but appreciate the enduring significance that the evening news broadcast holds for television networks. Through the years, it has been an honor to welcome esteemed figures such as Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, and Peter Jennings into our homes, shaping our collective consciousness with their insightful reporting.

Amidst the escalating pressure on the conventional TV industry, I find myself navigating through a time of transformation within this American institution.

In the 2024-25 season, traditional TV viewership has significantly decreased, as network evening newscasts lost nearly a million viewers compared to the previous year, according to Nielsen. Consequently, executives in the network news industry are likely feeling anxious this year, as two out of the three broadcasts are planning major revamps.

In a month’s time, Tom Llamas, aged 45, who currently leads the online NBC News Now program “Top Story,” will take over from Lester Holt as the anchor of the “Nightly News.” This is just the fourth time that the role has been changed since 1983.

In January, the “CBS Evening News” switched Norah O’Donnell with a pair (John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois) as hosts. The idea behind this change was conceived by Bill Owens, who used to produce “60 Minutes”. The revamped “CBS Evening News” seeks to provide more in-depth segments rather than sticking to the headline-focused style it is recognized for.

Despite streaming platforms taking over scripted TV shows, traditional broadcasters like NBC and CBS remain vigilant about their news programs. In fact, they’re actively working to enhance their competitive edge against “ABC World News With David Muir,” which currently holds a significant lead over second-place networks for the past 30 years.

Just like regular nightly news broadcasts, prime-time shows are struggling to stay significant in today’s market, facing competition not just from traditional cable and streaming services, but also platforms like YouTube. This platform appeals to a wide range of demographics, including older individuals as well as younger, tech-savvy viewers who prefer digital content.

Jonathan Wald, an experienced producer who collaborated with Brokaw on “NBC Nightly News,” stated that nobody desires a headstone engraved ‘Resting here is the man who ended the evening news.’

In the evening, programs airing on ABC, CBS, and NBC – television networks established in the late 1940s – continue to be some of the rare ones that encourage viewers to tune in at a specific time, a practice known as “appointment viewing.

Compared to many television network genres, they have proven to be more resilient. According to Nielsen data, their programs attract an average of 18 million viewers every evening and reach approximately 71 million viewers each month, even amidst fierce competition from 24-hour cable news and the multitude of digital platforms available.

Every now and then, I find myself tuning into Muir’s show, which consistently draws an impressive crowd of around 8 million television viewers each week, making it the most popular program on air during those times.

To put it personally, I’ve been following “CBS Evening News” since its debut, and I must admit that the recent changes haven’t quite resonated with me or the audience as expected. In some weeks, viewership has dipped below the four million mark, which is a noticeable decrease. At times, even “Special Report With Bret Baier” on Fox News manages to outperform us, leaving us behind in the ratings race.

Executives at NBC News think that having Llamas as the host of “Nightly News” could bring a new energy to the show. They’re optimistic because he has been leading in the demographic of viewers aged 25 to 54 during recent nights when he temporarily replaced Holt.

Janelle Rodriguez, an executive vice president at NBC News, stated that they believe he’s perfectly suited for the current situation. He’s an individual who has been passionate about this field since his childhood days.

Changing anchors inevitably carries some risk, as it often leads to a loss of around half a million viewers. A small dip in Nielsen ratings translates to approximately $10 million less in advertising income.

1) Nightly news programs continue to be financially successful ventures as they have experienced a rise in advertiser interest due to viewers tuning into live television. In 2024, advertising expenditure on the three network evening newscasts, including weekend editions, reached $669 million, a jump of 12% compared to the previous year, according to iSpot.tv’s measurements.

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As the audience moves to streaming, TV stations are pressing Washington for relief.

The programs continue to establish the identities of ABC, CBS, and NBC. According to a study by research company Magid, nearly half (50%) of viewers primarily tune in to network TV affiliates for news content.

At 6:30 PM, a majority of viewers tend to be older individuals, many of whom have developed the routine over time, as suggested by the frequent commercial breaks. Interestingly, statistics from iSpot indicate that nearly half (46%) of the advertising dollars invested in these programs are for pharmaceutical products.

Critics have frequently criticized “World News,” labeling it as a superficial news program that presents numerous stories but lacks in-depth coverage. However, the executives at ABC News argue that Diane Sawyer has traveled extensively to produce more detailed reports, which are then developed into documentaries for streaming on Hulu.

According to Chris Dinan, Muir’s executive producer, we put in a great deal of effort to ensure the program is both visually informative and represents a contemporary, sophisticated broadcast style. David, being well-versed in television, can be considered a lifelong learner within this field.

For nine years straight, viewers who appreciate the style of Muir and the captivating quality of “World News” have consistently ranked it as their top choice.

Wald stated, “Don’t pay attention to the gossips or popular opinions. This show is engaging and reliable. You always know what to expect.

After a period of sharing anchor duties with George Stephanopoulos, Michael Muir has since taken over as the primary figure at ABC News, signifying his success which has been duly recognized. Last year, Almin Karamehmedovic, who was previously one of Muir’s longtime executive producers, ascended to the position of division president.

Throughout much of his career, Muir’s public persona has been carefully crafted to present as impartial, thereby shielding him from accusations of bias often leveled at many established journalists by the right-wing.

Last autumn, Muir and colleague Linsey Davis faced being targeted following their aggressive fact-checking of President Trump during the second presidential debate in September. In a Fox News interview, Trump expressed disapproval by saying, “I’m not fond of those two anymore.” He also made a comment about Muir’s hair, stating that it looked better five years ago.

Despite Trump’s displeasure towards Muir, the viewership for “World News” has remained consistent, with only a minimal drop of 1% in the 2024-25 TV season compared to last year. In contrast, “NBC Nightly News” has seen a decrease of 6%, and “CBS Evening News” has suffered an 8% drop in audience numbers.

Though Holt’s exit from “Nightly News” appeared to be his choice, it’s worth noting that NBC News typically isn’t emotional when managing talent shifts, usually focusing on finding and nurturing the next wave of talent.

45-year-old Llamas has been in charge of “Top Story” on NBC News Now for three years now, which is NBC’s round-the-clock streaming news channel that tends to attract a more youthful demographic compared to their traditional broadcast network.

Like Muir, Llamas has been immersed in TV news since he was a teenager.

1) In a Syracuse TV newsroom, where colleagues monitored his height growth using pencil marks on a wall, Muir found employment. A 15-year-old named Llamas secured an internship at a Miami TV station with the assistance of Jorge Ramos, a well-known Univision anchor. (Ramos’ children were regular patients at Llamas’ father’s dental practice in Miami.)

A llama previously worked at “NBC Nightly News,” subsequently landing roles at MSNBC and as a local news anchor for both NBC’s Miami and New York branches. In 2014, he transitioned to ABC News, where he anchored the weekend newscast regularly and frequently stood in for Muir. He re-joined NBC in 2021, which sparked discussions about him becoming Holt’s potential successor.

Wald mentioned that he believes the individual will excel as the caretaker for ‘Nightly’, and possibly prolong its existence by introducing a fresh, youthful vibe to it.

At CBS News, currently preoccupied with a legal action initiated by Trump against “60 Minutes” and an upcoming takeover of the parent company Paramount Global by Skydance Media, there’s speculation about whether they will adjust their prime-time news structure before viewers return after Holt leaves, to keep audience interest.

CBS News did not make a representative available for on-the-record comments regarding the newscast. However, sources familiar with the program have shared that management remains committed to the unconventional method of the broadcast, with no immediate plans for modifications.

Individuals associated with the “CBS Evening News” have shared in confidence that the show has already started featuring shorter segments. Additionally, it’s anticipated that the producers will receive some guidance from Tom Cibrowski, the newly appointed CBS News president, who hails from ABC News, where there is a focus on making content more viewer-friendly.

However, the struggles encountered by CBS illustrate the difficulty of altering prime-time news, as viewers value consistency and recognizability.

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The difficulties experienced by CBS highlight the challenge in modifying evening news programs when what matters most to the audience is continuity and familiarity.

Muir served as the regular weekend host and frequent stand-in for Diane Sawyer during her tenure of five years on “World News”. Meanwhile, prior to Brian William’s sudden exit in 2015, Holt often took over his position as a temporary host.

It appears that CBS may have been adversely affected by replacing their evening news anchors six times since Dan Rather’s departure in 2005. The program has faced challenges with low viewership due to inconsistent lead-ins from local stations, an issue that dates back to the mid-1990s when several affiliates switched to Fox after CBS lost its NFL broadcasting rights.

Traditional TV networks understand that the decline in live viewing through scheduled television will not improve. This awareness has led them to extend their evening news broadcasts onto digital platforms.

After replacing Holt in June, llamas will carry on with the “Top Story” segment on NBC News Now. Meanwhile, Dickerson has been adding an additional half-hour to the “CBS Evening News Plus,” which airs on CBS News Streaming post-broadcast. This extended segment includes a more extensive newsmaker interview and a short commentary at its conclusion.

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but share my excitement about the convenience of accessing full evening newscasts on YouTube! Each episode gathers hundreds of thousands of viewers night after night, and they even get re-aired on 24-hour streaming news channels. The clips from “NBC Nightly News” managed to reach an astounding 43 million views on TikTok in the first quarter of 2025 alone!

Rodriguez stated that it’s important to stay prepared as individuals transit through various locations.”

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“According to Rodriguez, it’s crucial to always be ready when people shift from one spot to another.

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2025-05-11 13:31

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