"CBS Evening News," "ABC World News" Hit All Time Ratings Lows

Both the "CBS Evening News" and ABC's "World News" suffered all-time ratings lows last week, the week of June 15, 2009. Both broadcast's anchors — Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson, respectively — were off for the entire week.

CBS averaged 4.89 million total viewers for its lowest total on record. Its previous low came two weeks ago when the Couric-anchored broadcast averaged 5.18 million total viewers. The broadcast was anchored by Jeff Glor on Monday and Tuesday, Harry Smith on Wednesday, Maggie Rodriguez on Thursday, and Russ Mitchell on Friday.

ABC averaged 6.42 million total viewers for its lowest total on record. George Stephanopoulos subbed for Gibson all week.

"NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" won its 36th consecutive week with 7.75 million total viewers, though Thursday and Friday's broadcasts were omitted from the average due to US Open-related schedule changes (though, it should be noted, "Nightly" was at full coverage both nights).

The record low for both CBS and ABC suggests that the resurgence of the evening news has cooled. Earlier this year, ratings for all three broadcasts were up on the economic crisis and widespread interest in the new Obama administration.

Comments

[MinnesotaPurple]

So newspapers are the only ones in trouble?

You should see the ratings for our LOCAL news broadcasts! Down 28% on average.

Goodbye radio....television news....welcome newspaper websites!

[Koreboomer]

I find myself not watching any local or national newscasts, with one exception:

Jim Lehrer.

In the broadcast biz, local tv news segments are known as "spot deliverers".
Unless there's a big story going on, I'm just not interested. Even then, it's 50-50 whether the TV is even ON.

[Stashpanache]

I watch Jim Lehrer too but have you noticed they are doing canned segments on the News Hour lately and even they are going commercial. Too much corporate sponsorship on PBS now. Disgusting.

[3reddogs]

There was a similar story a week ago and it turned out Nielsen had to do a recount because some of the ABC affiliates that had made the digital switch early were inadvertently left out of the news ratings. If ABC hadn't raised a stink nobody would've been the wiser. Lesson learned: If Nielsen can mess up once they can mess up again (and we'll never hear a word about it).

[Catjya]

Internet is the way to go,you're never tied to ratings.

[ibivi]

Does anyone know what they are doing? Ratings are screwed up. Trains are crashing because of computer control. What a mess!!!

[Totto]

Harry Smith is SO much better than Katie Couric. He has integrity and is the real CBS.

[Melissa]

Network news is not worth watching. Much too biased no matter who the anchors are!

[1Troubles]

agree

[stagebandman]

Oh, come on, it's summer. Viewership is always down. We watch these numbers WAY too much. How about we just let legitimate news organizations do their job?

[countfloyd]

CBS should run the Daily Show instead. It provides just as much "news".

[smchp]

more accurate too. No wonder MSM ratings are down. Their 'news' is a joke.