Skip to content 
One of the most notable recent developments involving Muir is not a departure or retirement announcement, but the continued performance of the newscast he leads.Stream News
According to an ABC News press release issued September 30, 2026, World News Tonight with David Muir had its biggest premiere week in six years for the 2026–2027 season.
ABC reported an average of 8.388 million viewers for the week of September 21 and said the program ranked No. 1 among all broadcast and cable programs excluding sports in total viewers. The network also reported that the newscast had been No. 1 for 24 consecutive weeks.
Those figures help explain why Muir remains such an important part of ABC’s news operation.
The television news landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Viewers have countless choices, from traditional television networks to streaming services, social media, podcasts, newsletters, and independent digital publications.
Yet World News Tonight continues to attract a large national audience.