In the past, evening anchors were revered national leaders. Jennings provided composure, Rather represented furious tenacity, Brokaw represented calm assurance, and Cronkite’s remarks had the power to change history. For millions of people, these anchors defined reality in addition to reporting news. However, by 2025, that role’s legitimacy has been severely undermined, leaving networks frantically trying to reimagine a format that no longer enjoys the same level of commitment.
The resignation of Norah O’Donnell from CBS best exemplified the turmoil. She was formerly touted as the face of regeneration, but she quit under covert pressure, saw her pay cut in half, and lost some of her authority. In order to appear especially inventive, the broadcast, which was replaced by John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, tended toward magazine-style storytelling. The audience wasn’t persuaded, though. In certain weeks, viewership fell below four million, and insiders muttered that the show appeared to be an experiment designed more for cost-cutting than for restoring public confidence. Credibility cannot be outsourced, as one seasoned producer pointed out, and viewers saw the change almost immediately.
Evening News in America – Key Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Networks | ABC, CBS, NBC |
| Iconic Anchors | Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings, Dan Rather |
| Current Figures | David Muir (ABC), Tom Llamas (NBC), John Dickerson & Maurice DuBois (CBS) |
| Audience Shift | Nearly 1 million fewer viewers in 2024–25 vs. prior year (Nielsen) |
| Advertising | $669 million across nightly broadcasts in 2024, 12% higher year-on-year |
| Demographics | Predominantly older audiences; nearly half of ads are pharmaceuticals |
| Current Struggles | CBS overhaul after Norah O’Donnell exit; NBC moving to Tom Llamas; ABC facing scrutiny despite dominance |
| Competitive Threats | Cable, streaming platforms, YouTube, TikTok |
| Cultural Role | Evening news once unified Americans, now reflects fragmentation |
NBC has to face its own consequences. Long commended for his composed delivery, Lester Holt moved aside to give way to Tom Llamas. Llamas, who was 45 years old, was positioned as the young yet seasoned performer who could appeal to all age groups. He had honed his craft in Miami, polished his delivery at ABC, and came back to NBC with the air of someone who had been prepared for this. According to executives, his approach is especially useful for reaching younger audiences who are spending more time online. Transitions are dangerous, though, as networks usually lose half a million viewers when they switch anchors, which translates into tens of millions of dollars in lost advertising revenue.
Meanwhile, under David Muir, ABC is still in control. In an age of fragmented attention, his World News Tonight frequently attracts over eight million people each night, demonstrating its remarkable effectiveness. Before his fact-checking of Donald Trump during the 2024 debate led to criticisms from the former president and his supporters, Muir’s impartial tone shielded him from partisan criticism for years. Trump mocked Muir’s reporting as well as his appearance, which is a remarkably similar technique he has employed against other journalists. However, the criticism had little discernible impact; ABC’s ratings are still stable, demonstrating the continued value of discipline and consistency.
The decline in trust is a reflection of the wider change in media habits rather than being specific to any one network or anchor. The events of the day are no longer revealed to younger viewers around 6:30 p.m. They browse TikTok, where unprofessional protest films circulate in real time, or watch YouTubers who provide opinion that seems immediate and unvarnished. Many people find that the tempo and energy of digital media make a polished half-hour presentation look archaic, almost ritualistic.
This change is supported by economic realities. The networks mostly target older consumers because drugs account for over half of their ad revenue. Broadcasters are unable to draw in marketers who are vying for the attention of younger, digitally native customers since this group is devoted but dwindling. Not only was it financially advantageous for CBS to choose less expensive anchors, but it also represented a cost-cutting approach that viewers perceived as lacking ambition. Even last year’s 12% increase in ad income was largely driven by live event scarcity rather than actual audience growth.
In terms of culture, evening hosts used to have the same type of sway that superstars do today. A well-planned CBS segment is not as effective at influencing voter turnout as Taylor Swift’s Instagram post. Markets react to Elon Musk’s tweets more quickly than an NBC chyron. Once information gatekeepers, anchors now find it difficult to make their voices heard in a media landscape that is much faster, more fragmented, and frequently harsh.
However, the position is still relevant. Evening newscasts continue to be a very resilient presence, with 18 million viewers each night. Reinvention, not irrelevance, is the problem. In an era of hot opinions, anchors need to change from being authoritative narrators to transparent curators who demonstrate to viewers how facts are checked, how stories are constructed, and why subtlety is important. If this change is made clearly, it may be incredibly long-lasting and help to rebuild some of the gradually damaged confidence.
