Broadcast News Audience Getting Smaller, States LA Times

ABC and NBC claimed ratings crowns for their news programs in the 2016-17 TV season, but their kingdom of viewers is still getting smaller, states the Los Angeles Times, which added that “the average number of viewers watching network evening newscasts each night during the 2016-17 season was 23.1 million, down 4% from the 2015-16 season. In the morning, the three networks’ total was 12.2 million viewers, a decline of 5% from the previous year.

“The drop in the overall number of viewers shows how broadcast news is facing the same disruption that has occurred in the rest of the TV business. More choices for viewers means less time with the traditional programs that have been cornerstones of the network TV business.”