NBC's Nightly News had long stretches of being #1, notably a 52-week streak ending in April 2001 and dominating the key 25-54 demographic for 12 seasons from 2006-2007 through 2018-2019, but ABC World News Tonight has generally led total viewership since 2015, though NBC recently saw wins in early 2026 demos.
- Early 2000s: NBC Nightly News, anchored by Tom Brokaw, achieved its longest People Meter streak (since 1987) with 52 consecutive weeks at #1 (May 2000 - April 2001) and was the top newscast for the 1997 season.
- Mid-2000s to Late 2010s: NBC held a strong lead in the crucial Adults 25-54 demographic for 12 straight seasons (2006-2007 to 2018-2019).
- ABC's Resurgence: ABC World News Tonight (with David Muir) ended NBC's demo streak in the 2019-2020 season and led in total viewers for much of the 2020-2024 period.
- Shifting Landscape: While ABC often leads in total viewers, NBC recently showed signs of regaining ground in the key demo in early 2026, indicating a tight race.
NBC News reportedly finished the year as the top broadcast network in prime time, while Fox News led all cable networks.
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“NBC Nightly News” notched a rare ratings win over longtime rival “ABC World News Tonight” in the prized 25-54 demographic last week -- as `CBS Evening News` fell further behind with new anchor Tony Dokoupil at the helm.
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