Tom Llamas Leads NBC Nightly News to Victory in Key Demo for the First Time

Tom Llamas and David Muir

Tom Llamas is proving to be a successful choice as the new anchor of NBC Nightly News, with the program surpassing its ABC rival World News Tonight with David Muir in the key 25-54 demo for the first time on Tuesday, July 8.

NBC Nightly News Surpasses ABC in Key Demo

According to Nielsen ratings, NBC Nightly News averaged 904,000 viewers in the coveted 25-54 demo, while World News Tonight trailed with 891,000 viewers in the same demographic. This marks a significant milestone for Llamas, who took over the anchor desk from longtime host Lester Holt in June. It is the first time since Llamas’ debut that NBC Nightly News has topped Muir’s show in the key demo.

In addition to its performance in the 25-54 demo, NBC Nightly News also outperformed ABC World News Tonight in the 18-49 demo. On Monday, July 7, NBC Nightly News averaged 677,000 viewers in the 18-49 demo, and on Tuesday, it maintained strong numbers with 624,000. By comparison, ABC World News Tonight averaged 668,000 on Monday and 575,000 on Tuesday.

Year-Over-Year Growth for NBC

Compared to the same day the previous year, NBC Nightly News saw an increase of 9% in the 25-54 demo, while ABC World News Tonight dipped by 8%. Llamas’ first month in the chair also marked the closest June demo gap between the two networks in five years. NBC Nightly News was the only evening newscast to see year-over-year growth, enjoying a 7% increase in the 25-54 demo.

Total Viewers: A Different Story

Despite this week’s demo victories, NBC Nightly News is still trailing World News Tonight in total viewers. On Tuesday, World News Tonight averaged 7.09 million viewers, while NBC Nightly News brought in 5.81 million.

In June, ABC World News Tonight achieved its largest ratings win in three decades, averaging 7.31 million viewers. This compared to NBC Nightly News’ 5.67 million, with ABC showing a 1% increase in viewers year-over-year, while NBC saw a modest 0.4% increase from the previous year.

What Lester Holt told Tom Llamas before handing over 'NBC Nightly News' - Los Angeles Times

Llamas’ Dual Role: Anchoring Nightly News and Top Story

Llamas, who took over the anchor chair for NBC Nightly News on June 2, also continues to anchor Top Story on NBC News Now, a digital-first program. In his statement earlier this year, Llamas shared his excitement about his new role:
“Anchoring NBC Nightly News is a profound honor and one that carries tremendous responsibility,” he said. “I look forward to working with the world-class journalists at Nightly News and Top Story to bring viewers the most important stories every night.”

Llamas also acknowledged the legacy of his predecessor, Lester Holt, saying, “Lester Holt is a great man and one of the most trusted broadcasters of our time. Just like Lester, I promise to be devoted to our viewers and dedicated to the truth.”

Looking Ahead: The Challenge for Llamas

As Llamas continues his tenure as anchor of NBC Nightly News, the ratings battle with ABC World News Tonight remains intense. While NBC Nightly News has shown promise in the key demo and is making strides with younger viewers, the gap in total viewership still looms large.

Llamas’ challenge moving forward will be to continue building momentum with his growing audience, particularly in the 25-54 demo, while also attempting to close the viewership gap with Muir’s dominant World News Tonight. For now, Llamas’ first month in the role signals that he is making a strong impression, but the fight for ratings supremacy is far from over.

Stay tuned as the competition between these two evening news giants continues to unfold.