CBS’s “Evening News” has officially moved operations to Washington, D.C. and its first broadcast from the new location on Monday brought in the best ratings since Norah O’Donnell took the helm this summer.
Early Nielsen data shows the program delivered its highest audience since July, averaging 6.811 million total viewers, 1.443 million of whom were in the advertiser-coveted age demographic of 25-54.
Monday’s overall numbers are 25% higher than the season-to-date average, which is 5.428 million. The numbers are 41% higher than the season-to-date average in that key 25-54 demo, which is 1.023 million.
The show is also showing week-to-week growth in total viewers and the key demo. For the week of Nov. 25, the most recent data available, the “Evening News” averaged 6 million viewers with 1.178 million between 25-54.
There have been steady week-to-week gains since Sept. 23, when the season officially started. In that first week, “Evening News” averaged 5.06 million viewers and 906,000 in the demo.
This represents an upward shift for the broadcast. O’Donnell’s July 15, 2019 debut drew 1.221 million viewers ages 25-54, which was down 24% versus the same night (Monday, July 16) last year. O’Donnell’s total-viewer decline was much less dramatic, down just 1%, which was also less of a decline than ABC and NBC experienced year to year.
Compared with the show’s 2019-to-date ratings, the Jeff Glor days, O’Donnell’s summer kickoff was down 22% in the demo and 6% among total viewers. Versus Glor’s final week, O’Donnell’s first show dropped 19% in the key demo. The two versions were steady in total viewers.