NBC’s Tom Llamas Sends Ratings Plunging

World News Tonight remained the top-rated evening news program in June, though its averages this June were drawn from shortened weeks as the NBA Finals on ABC preempted the show. World News Tonight aired 17 times in June, while Nightly News aired 23 times.

Muir also carried World News Tonight to its largest lead in more than 30 years over NBC Nightly News through the year’s second quarter, though Holt hosted the show through most of that tenure.

Llamas’ slight dip, which is similar to last year’s widened gap, indicates the headwinds Llamas faces in growing an audience and beating his former ABC colleague Muir in a time where viewers are pivoting away from linear television, particularly when a sizable gap between World News Tonight and Nightly News has existed for a decade.

Llamas, who left ABC for NBC in 2021 and had long been considered the frontrunner to replace Holt, told The Washington Post in June that he does “want to be number one.” He conceded, however, that his goal was “not going to happen in a month.”

“I don’t know when it’s going to happen,” he said. “But I believe it will happen.”

Llamas has seen some encouraging signs.

Nightly News marked three consecutive weeks of total viewer growth toward the end of June, and its 25-54 demo gap narrowed to its closest gap in five years, indicating NBC’s promotional blitz of putting Llamas nearly everywhere may have had some effect. (Muir countered the move with a sit-down with People in late May, days before Llamas’ start date.)

Its 823,000 demo average last month was also up from June 2024, which saw 774,000 viewers tune in throughout a turbulent, pre-election news cycle—though Llamas lost 10,000 viewers compared to last year.

NBC News had no comment, though it has touted Llamas’ growth in its public releases and has demonstrated its confidence in him by flying him to Texas on Sunday to anchor coverage of the deadly flash floods that have so far taken the lives of more than 100 people. Llamas also anchors his daily show, Top Story, on NBC News Now, the network’s streaming service.

Who knew Lester Holt had a fan base?

Paging Chicken Little.

The CBS revamp is a mess, too. Awkward. These shows are passe' to most but I find them an entertaining culmination of the day's events. I eat dinner flicking between all three networks, as well as PBS News Hour.

Tom is way more genuine than David Tyler but lacks gravitas. He comes across a good decade younger than 46 — not a bad thing in life… but not a good thing as the face of a network news organization.

Bow down to the KWEEN of network news!

I didn't know people still watch network news.

5.708 To 5.674 million = “Plunging”. Gotta love clickbait titles.

People like to watch David Tyler Muir's GIANT HEAD!

They miss Lester Holt's GIANT HEAD.

With every change, it brings the opportunity to check out something else - or drop all together. I preferred Lester's maturity.

Why do they all wear those spread collars now, btw? Are they supposed to make one look more intelligent and articulate (aka, British)?

This is hardly a "plunge" in ratings, OP. More like a dip and actually a rather expected one. Anytime a network changes lead anchors, there's going to be a dip.

I left NBC Llamas for CBS DuBois/Dickerson.

I like Dickerson's voice and delivery.

The set is great too, especially the weather section.

David Muir looks creepy plus he fidgets with papers on the desk yet he's reading from a teleprompter. He has the 'personality' of a dirty mop bucket.

I liked Lester Holt - Tom Llamas is good too but he seems a bit too cheery overall. I like when Haley Jackson subs on the weekends on NBC.

Watching nightly news provides highlights of the days events instead of having to watch the hourly shows that drone on about the same stuff and always pop in a segment on DUMP. I look forward to reading his obituary hopefully before I reach the finish line!

Tom is doing decent, but does need to develop some gravitas, as was mentioned above.

Some of the changes he has made to the show seem to be copying ABC News, especially ABC's nightly news report on the weather, regardless of there is actually something newsworthy happening with the weather.

I like Tom's new "The Cost of Denial" series about medical insurance issues. However, one night, he included a Cost of Denial report while failing to report on the Supreme Court's ruling regarding transgender affirming health care for minors.

And Tom's new signature closing, "Tonight and every night, we're here for you" needs some work.

[quote[ Watching nightly news provides highlights of the days events instead of having to watch the hourly shows that drone on about the same stuff and always pop in a segment on DUMP.

If you never watch independent, non-mainstream media, or podcasts, I guess that's true--those are your two choices.

^quote fuckup

Isn't competing for the top broadcast network news program kind of like competing for captain of the Titanic?

[quote]Who knew Lester Holt had a fan base?

My parents love him.

NBC should do like they did when Conan O’Brien took over the Tonight Show, then brought Leno back. Sack Llamas (who overacts every story) and return Lester Holt to the position. I may even come back to NBC News.

R14, notice how Tom Llamas always holds a wad of papers in his hands? That’s to prevent him from waving them around when he reads the teleprompter. I don’t know what it is with these youngsters who cannot keep their fucking paws in their lap. There was a weekend NBC sub who kept smashing his finger on the table as if trying to make a point while reading. Lester kept his hands folded in from of him while reading. Guess they don’t teach that course anymore.

r20 It was Lester's choice to step down from being the Nightly News anchor.

In 2009, it was not Jay Leno's choice to leave the Tonight Show. Network had promised the Tonight Show to Conan and ousted Leno in the process.

Need a link for that, R22. They groomed Tom Llamas for years, then pushed Holt out because of his age. Get real.

Tom Llamas still has a shot of he’s willing.

R16 - I do watch other news programs - Deadline Whitehouse is my favorite along with the 'Weeknight' although Simone gets tiresome with flashing her talons around and mugging for the camera. Also like the Bulwark on YT among some others. I've tried podcasts but I usually end up doing some chores while listening and get distracted and lose track of the conversation.

Hearing about the latest craziness accomplishes nothing and being informed on a constant basis is not healthy. The MAGA Lugnuts are lost and any hardships they may encounter with the BBB just past will be blamed on someone other than their leader. I'm sick of it but that may be the point of all the chaos - to wear us down and implement even more shit. I'm aware as I can be but depleting my physical & spiritual energy is something I won't do.

Could be seasonal and other issues. It's not a plunge - and you can't make any decisions from 1 month.

They'll know by early next year.

I'm surprised people watch any of this still - must be people over the age of 60.

NBC's new boy sounds as if he suffers from Jeff Gloritis. Glor always looked as if he was wearing his father's suit when he took over the anchor chair at CBS Evening News. Needless to say, he didn't last long. I liked Norah O'Donnell, and the ratings were higher when she sat at the desk. With this new Ebony and Ivory duo, I find it weird to watch two anchors who sit there stiffly while one reads a story and the other one waits for his turn. Are they going to duke it out one of these days to see who gets the sole spot?

True, R27. Jeff Glor, what a fucking lightweight. I like John Dickerson, and know Maurice DuBose from local NYC TV, however, the show is a miss. They’re trying something different and it’s failing. Like you, loved Norah O’Donnell (the DL hates her like they hate all women in news or politics).

I’m under 65, but have been a TV news junkie since the 1970s when I was a wee lad. Mary Tyler Moore, the movie Network, Jim Jensen local news…loved all of it.

I'm the TOP

David obviously suffers from IAS, Itchy Anus Syndrome, which would explain his constant squirming.

Yes, R28! I also remember Maurice from local NY news. It's funny because separately, I find both he and John very engaging but when they pair them up the pacing becomes awkward, and it highlights a stiffness about them that is a tad painful to watch.

I thought Maurice did a great job when they sent him on location to cover the new Pope. I also noticed when John is left to solo at the desk, he's much more appealing because he just gets on with it. No awkward banter to slow things down.

R30, that photo of Muir wearing a clothes pin on the back of his jacket to highlight his body says it all about the supposed depth of this number one anchor.

[quote] I'm the TOP

[quote] —David Tyler Muir

Only in the ratings, darling.

Tom needs to go shirtless.

That's the solution.

He's cute, but he's bland.

I wonder if Tom has a big, Cuban verga?

R23 He said he wanted to leave to focus more on Dateline. I didn’t detect any “forcing out” in the narrative here. Seems quite genuine.

He's the MARY!

[quote]He said he wanted to leave to focus more on Dateline

WHO in their right mind would voluntarily want to focus on that shit show? Lester was demoted to that shit show. He could quit NBC altogether, but it seems he needs the paycheck. OR, he's running out his NBC contract on Dateline.

I know many people who watch Dateline religiously and watch reruns on repeat for hours at a time. It’s crazy how into that show people get. I don’t know anyone who watches the NBC Nightly News.

[quote]I eat dinner flicking

You lesbians slay me.

Then why is the pay for the news show 20 time more, R38?

R40 Cuz I don’t know and I don’t care?

Does he own any llamas?

Tom Alpacas? Tom Vicunas? Tom Camelid?

Tom Dromedary, r43

Is the world really ready for a llama reading the news?

He looks like a robot and sounds like an AI.

The only thing more dead than broadcast network news are broadcast networks.

Lol R46.

Perfect for Trump World 2025.

Have any of you seen Broadcast News (1987)? The William Hurt character was being groomed to take over the NEW YORK news and was too stupid to know it. It’s about prestige, it was about an upwardly mobile career to the top.

He doesn’t have gravitas.

They should have hired his brother Lorenzo.

I am connected to the news biz and everything I have heard suggests that Lester decided to hang it up. He was definitely not forced out.

Dateline airs repeat episodes on multiple cable channels, including OWN.

Does Lester get residuals as the show's anchor for these repeat showings?

It's a demotion. From news to tabloid, doesn't matter how many people you think watches it.

The "N" in NBC Is Nepotism. Lester Jr works there.

Americans are intimidated by a double I in front.

Muir and Llamas lack gravitas and authority. Both seem like they should be MC'ing family fun night on a cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean .

Muir has a lot more gravitas than LLamas.

David Muir is a fucking HACK!

I do NOT lack gravitas, bitch!

A few years ago Muir did an interview with Trump which made no news whatsoever. Muir is the only person on Earth who can't get Trump to say something stupid, ridiculous, or racist.

Is he Shauna Sands and Lorenzo llamas son?

I’m sure that’s true, R52.

[quote]I left NBC Llamas for CBS DuBois/Dickerson. I like Dickerson's voice and delivery. The set is great too, especially the weather section.

I've been clicking between CBS and NBC since Llamas took over, and I , too, prefer CBS these days. LLamas is an attractive man, but he's not a news anchor for network news. He's more 'local news' likeable.

R61, but he actually managed to fact check Trump during a debate, something certain other people didn't do

Fernando Llamas?

The only ratings these people get are from TV’s left on in hospital waiting rooms.

Oh, look, he’s a religious nut.

NBC’S TOM LLAMAS SAYS CATHOLIC EDUCATION DEEPENED HIS FAITH, PUSHED HIM TO ALWAYS DO HIS BEST

Tom Llamas = TOM YAMAS.

How big is his trouser snake?

His wife has quite big tits.

And Tom has something stuck on his shoe.

Any shirtless pics of him ? Any photos of him on a boat or the beach ?

Read.

didn't know people still watch this shit🙄

Who under 75 still watches the nightly network news?

His collapse is complete. He will never be Tom Brokaw.

[quote]Who under 75 still watches the nightly network news?

I'm 50something and I still watch the nightly news. I want a quick roundup of what's happening in the world. I can get that from the network news.

Cable news shows seem to get stuck on one topic an don't give me the overall roundup I desire.

They’ve shot the Czar!

I miss Brian Williams and Lester

R25, nothing on MSNBC or Fox is a news show equivalent to the evening network news. They’re opinion news, which doesn’t cut it. You may want to treat yourself to what a real news show is about.

Mr Muir was looking quite tasty on last night's show. He's on assignment in Texas for the flood disaster. He was wearing a tight fitting T-shirt which showed off his guns. You could also see the outlines of his pec muscles. When someone posts "hold me David" I think of him.

R80 = David Muir

I'm 61 and I still watch the network news at 6:30 after I watch the local news at 6. I don't find I can get world news quickly on CNN, MSNBC, or FOX (and I won't watch FOX), so network news it is. As someone else said, cable news gets 'stuck' on one story.

[quote]Mr Muir was looking quite tasty on last night's show. He's on assignment in Texas for the flood disaster. He was wearing a tight fitting T-shirt which showed off his guns. You could also see the outlines of his pec muscles. When someone posts "hold me David" I think of him.

It was also a dirty black T-shirt. Lots of dirt and stains visible on it. I'm super-surprised the producers didn't make him change into a clean black t-shirt before going on the air. I guess David vetoed that, wanting the viewers to know he's been in the field, getting dirty while covering the story for them.

I'm a dirty boy

[quote] It was also a dirty black T-shirt. Lots of dirt and stains visible on it.

They're called cum stains.