Tom Llamas’ First Month as NBC Nightly News Anchor: Ratings and Challenges Revealed

After more than a month at the helm of NBC Nightly News, Tom Llamas has officially settled into his role as the successor to Lester Holt. The ratings for his first full month have been revealed, and while the transition has been met with some challenges, there are also signs of hope for the future.

June 2025 Ratings: A Dip but Some Encouragement

In June 2025, NBC Nightly News averaged 5.674 million viewers, marking a slight dip from the 5.708 million viewers Holt averaged at the end of his tenure. This decrease is not unexpected, as transitions between high-profile anchors often lead to some fluctuations in viewership. Additionally, in the 25-54 demo, a key advertising group, the show saw a drop from 828,000 under Holt to 823,000 under Llamas.

However, despite the slight decline, there is one positive takeaway for NBC: NBC Nightly News experienced an increase in its viewership in the 25-54 demo compared to last year, which was one of Llamas’ key goals when he was selected to replace Holt. This suggests that Llamas is on the right path in attracting a younger, more sought-after audience.

NBC Nightly News vs. ABC’s World News Tonight: The Ratings Battle

NBC’s evening news program remains behind ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir in terms of overall viewership. In May, World News Tonight averaged 7.24 million viewers, and in June, that number grew to 7.308 million, although it aired only 17 times due to the NBA playoffs. By comparison, NBC Nightly News aired 23 times in June, meaning that despite ABC’s shorter month, the ratings gap between the two programs remains significant.

While NBC Nightly News still trails World News Tonight, it’s worth noting that ABC’s growth in June was not a result of any massive surge in ratings but rather an extension of their already established lead. NBC’s challenge will be to close this gap as Llamas continues to settle into his role and solidify his place among the ranks of established news anchors.

Llamas’ Transition: From ABC to NBC

Tom Llamas began his tenure as the anchor of NBC Nightly News on June 2, following Lester Holt’s departure on May 26. Llamas, who previously worked for various NBC affiliates before heading to ABC from 2014 to 2021, made his return to NBC News in 2021. In addition to his role as the anchor of NBC Nightly News, Llamas also hosts Top Story With Tom Llamas on NBC News Now, a digital-first program that allows him to continue engaging with viewers in a different format.

In his first statement after taking the job, Llamas expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the weight of the responsibility:
“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. 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.”

What’s Next for Tom Llamas and NBC Nightly News?

As Llamas continues his tenure, all eyes will be on whether he can maintain NBC’s credibility and grow the viewership of Nightly News. Though June’s ratings showed a slight dip, the increase in the 25-54 demo is a promising sign that he is making inroads with a key demographic. The question now is whether he can build on this momentum and challenge World News Tonight for the top spot in the evening news ratings battle.

The coming months will be crucial for Llamas, as he works to establish his presence as the new face of NBC’s flagship news program. If he can continue to build on his appeal to younger viewers and maintain NBC’s journalistic integrity, the ratings dip may just be a temporary setback in what could become a long and successful run.

Stay tuned as Llamas continues to settle into his new role, and whether or not his approach will resonate with viewers in the months to come.