World News Tonight is the flagship evening news program of ABC. It premiered in 1948 as News and Views, originally airing as a 15-minute broadcast. Over the following decades, the show underwent numerous title and format changes before settling on the multi-anchor World News Tonight in 1978. It has long been one of the most-watched nightly newscasts in the United States, competing with other major network evening news programs.
The program covers major national headlines, international developments, politics, health, science, and human-interest stories. The current format is characterized by a fast-paced “top stories” approach that delivers comprehensive daily updates on everything from domestic policy to international conflict.
During its run, World News Tonight has frequently led U.S. evening news ratings, with in-depth reporting on elections, global conflicts, natural disasters, and investigative journalism. It has also become famous for its signature “America Strong” segment, which highlights uplifting human-interest stories to close each episode. This blend of breaking news and storytelling has helped the show maintain a dominant lead over its competitors, often drawing several million more viewers than other nightly network newscasts.
David Muir serves as the weekday anchor and managing editor, a role he has held since September 2014. He is joined by weekend anchors Whit Johnson (Saturdays) and Linsey Davis (Sundays). The show also features several contributing correspondents, such as Rachel Scott, Mary Bruce, Erielle Reshef, and Victor Oquendo.
Over the decades, World News Tonight has been home to several notable former anchors who shaped the show’s legacy. Key former hosts include Peter Jennings, Diane Sawyer, Charles Gibson, Barbara Walters, Frank Reynolds, and Max Robinson, the first African American network news anchor.
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