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Tom Llamas Takes Over NBC Nightly News, But Viewers Still Tuning In to David Muir
NBC Nightly News has begun a new era with Tom Llamas at the helm, replacing veteran anchor Lester Holt. However, early ratings indicate a significant viewership gap between NBC and ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir.
During Llamas’s first week, Muir maintained a dominant lead, attracting nearly 7 million total viewers. Llamas drew a respectable 5.4 million viewers, but the difference is notable.
While Muir led NBC by 17% in total viewership during Holt’s final week, that margin has grown to 28% with Llamas in the anchor chair. The gap is particularly pronounced in the key 25-54 demographic, where Muir’s audience surpasses Llamas’s by a substantial 136,000 viewers.
Despite these challenges, NBC has seen some positive trends. Nightly News with Llamas retained a larger portion of its year-over-year audience than other major newscasts and saw growth in the 18-49 demographic, a key target for advertisers. Meanwhile, CBS Evening News remains in third place with nearly 4 million viewers.
Llamas, in a previous statement, acknowledged the honor and responsibility of the position, praising his predecessor, Lester Holt. Despite the ratings dip, social media shows a mix of support for Llamas and nostalgia for Holt, with viewers expressing both excitement for the new era and fondness for the familiar face. The coming weeks will reveal whether Llamas can close the viewership gap and solidify his position as a leading figure in nightly news.