ABC World News Tonight

{{short description|American television news program}} {{pp-pc}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox television | image = ABCWNT2021.svg | image_size = 150 | caption = | alt_name = {{plainlist| *''News and Views'' (1948{{ndash}}1951) *''After the Deadlines'' (1951{{ndash}}1952) *''All-Star News'' (1952{{ndash}}1953) *''John Daly and the News'' (1953{{ndash}}1960) *''ABC Evening Report'' (1960{{ndash}}1962) *''Ron Cochran with the News'' (1962{{ndash}}1965) *''Peter Jennings with the News'' (1965{{ndash}}1967) *''ABC Evening News'' (1968{{ndash}}1978) *''World News Tonight'' (1978{{ndash}}1983) *''World News Tonight with Peter Jennings'' (1983{{ndash}}2005) *''World News Tonight with Bob Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas'' (2006) *''World News Tonight with Charles Gibson'' (2006) *''World News with Charles Gibson'' (2006{{ndash}}2009) *''ABC World News with Diane Sawyer'' (2009{{ndash}}2014) *''ABC World News Tonight with David Muir'' (2014{{ndash}}2020) *''World News Tonight with David Muir'' (2020{{ndash}}present)}} | genre = [[News broadcasting#Television|News program]] | creator = [[Roone Arledge]] (''World News Tonight'') | director = {{plainlist| *Rob Vint *Ron Halper *David Distinti *Paul Verciglio }} | presenter = {{plainlist| '''Weekdays:''' *[[David Muir]] *'''Saturdays:''' *[[Whit Johnson]] *'''Sundays:''' *[[Linsey Davis]] *([[#Anchors|See former anchors]]) }} | narrator = JJ Surma | theme_music_composer = {{plainlist| *[[Bob Israel (composer)|Bob Israel]] (1978{{ndash}}1990) *[[Score Productions]] (1990{{ndash}}1996) *[[Edd Kalehoff]] (1996{{ndash}}2012; 2020–present) *[[Hans Zimmer]] (2012{{ndash}}2020) }} | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = [[Edd Kalehoff]] (2020{{ndash}}present) | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = | num_episodes = | list_episodes = | executive_producer = {{plainlist| *Almin Karamehmedovic (2014{{ndash}}present)<ref>{{cite news|title=Michael Corn Named Senior EP of GMA; Almin Karamehmedovic Named EP of World News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/08/michael-corn-named-senior-ep-of-gma-almin-karamehmedovic-named-ep-of-world-news/|author=Alyssa Bernstein|work=ABC News|date=August 26, 2014|access-date=February 7, 2015|archive-date=February 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208001904/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/08/michael-corn-named-senior-ep-of-gma-almin-karamehmedovic-named-ep-of-world-news/|url-status=live}}</ref> }} | producer = | location = {{Plainlist| * ABC News Headquarters * [[New York City]] }} | camera = [[Multiple-camera setup|Multi-camera]] | runtime = {{plainlist| *15 minutes (1953{{ndash}}1967) *30 minutes (1967{{ndash}}present) }} | company = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News Productions]] | network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] | first_aired = {{Start date|1948|1|13}} | last_aired = present | related = {{ubl|''[[World News Now]]''|''[[Good Morning America First Look]]''|''[[Good Morning America]]''|''[[GMA3]]''|Competitors:|''[[NBC Nightly News]]''|''[[CBS Evening News]]''|''[[PBS News Hour]]''}} }}

'''''ABC World News Tonight''''' (titled '''''ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''''' for its weeknight broadcasts since September 2014) is the flagship daily evening [[news broadcasting#Television|television news program]] of [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]], the news division of the [[American Broadcasting Company]] (ABC) television network in the United States. It is currently the most watched network newscast in the United States, with an average of 2 million more than its nearest rival, ''[[NBC Nightly News]]''. Since 2014, the program's weekday broadcasts have been anchored by [[David Muir]].<ref name="ET20140827" /> As of February 6–7, 2021, [[Whit Johnson]] and [[Linsey Davis]] anchor the Saturday and Sunday editions of the newscast respectively.

The program has been anchored at various times by a number of other presenters since its debut in 1948. It also has used various titles, including ''ABC Evening News'' from 1968 to 1978, ''World News Tonight'' from 1978 to 2006, ''World News'' from 2006 to 2009, and ''ABC World News'' from 2009 to 2014. Since 2014, the program has been called ''ABC World News Tonight.'' The weeknight edition of ''ABC World News Tonight'' airs live at 6:30 p.m. in the [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern]] and 5:30 p.m. in the [[Central Time Zone]]s. However ABC affiliates [[KGNS-TV|KGNS]], [[KNOE-TV|KNOE-2]], [[WEEK-TV|WEEK-2]], and [[WNCF]] air ''ABC World News Tonight'' half-an-hour later on delay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WEEK ABC HDTV - TV Listings Guide |url=https://www.ontvtonight.com/guide/listings/channel/69030778/week-abc-hdtv.html |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.ontvtonight.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=KGNS ABC Laredo - TV Listings Guide |url=https://www.ontvtonight.com/guide/listings/channel/69022387/kgns-abc-laredo.html |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.ontvtonight.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WNCF HDTV - TV Listings Guide |url=https://www.ontvtonight.com/guide/listings/channel/69025287/wncf-hdtv.html |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.ontvtonight.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TV Schedule for ABC (KNOE-DT2) Monroe, LA |url=https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/abc-knoedt2-monroe-la/2290 |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=TV Passport |language=en}}</ref> [[WSB-TV|WSB]] also airs it on a delay, the only ABC station in the Eastern Time Zone to do so.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WSB HDTV - TV Listings Guide |url=https://www.ontvtonight.com/guide/listings/channel/69022164/wsb-hdtv.html |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.ontvtonight.com}}</ref>

== History == The then-newly-launched ABC television network began a nightly newscast in the summer of 1948, when [[H. R. Baukhage]] and Jim Gibbons hosted ''[[News and Views (television)|News and Views]]''. This was succeeded by ''[[After the Deadlines]]'' in 1951 and ''All Star News'' in 1952. In the fall of 1953, [[John Charles Daly|John Daly]] began anchoring the then-15-minute ''John Daly and the News''. Daly, who served as host of the CBS game show ''[[What's My Line?]]'' contemporaneously, anchored the newscast until 1960, with multiple hosts and formats succeeding him. Anchors of the program during the early 1960s, sometimes for short periods, included [[Alex Dreier]], [[John H. Secondari|John Secondari]], Fendall Winston Yerxa, Al Mann, [[Bill Shadel]], and the three-person team of [[John Cameron Swayze]] (formerly of NBC), [[Bill Lawrence (news personality)|Bill Lawrence]], and Bill Sheehan.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Matusow |first1=Barbara |title=The Evening Stars |date=1983 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |location=Boston |isbn=0-395-33968-5 |pages=138, 140–41}}</ref> In 1962, [[Ron Cochran]] was appointed as full-time anchor, staying with the program, entitled, “Ron Cochran with the News”, until 1965.<ref>{{cite web |title=Broadcasting |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1963/1963-06-17-BC.pdf |access-date=13 May 2024 |pages=42 |date=17 June 1963}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1963 Press Photo Ron Cochran, Anchorman of "Ron Cochran with the News" |url=https://historicimages.com/products/hcp30018 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref> After Cochran left the program, [[Peter Jennings]], a Canadian journalist who was 26 years old at the time, was named anchor of the retitled ''Peter Jennings with the News''.

In December 1967, the inexperienced Jennings left the anchor chair and was reassigned by the news division as an international correspondent for the news program.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shedden |first1=David |title=Early TV Anchors |url=https://www.poynter.org/archive/2006/early-tv-anchors/ |website=Poynter |date=April 4, 2006 |access-date=14 May 2024}}</ref> The newly renamed ''ABC Evening News'' was hosted, in succession, by [[Bob Young (news anchor)|Bob Young]] (January 1968 to May 1968), and then by [[Frank Reynolds]] (May 1968 to December 1970), who was joined by [[Howard K. Smith]] in May 1969.<ref>{{cite web |title=American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. 1967 Annual Report |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Networks/ABC/ABC-American-Broadcasting-1967-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=13 May 2024 |pages=4}}</ref> The program expanded from 15 to 30 minutes in January 1967, nearly {{frac|3|1|2}} years after both CBS and NBC had expanded their evening news programs to a half-hour.

=== Reasoner, Smith, and Walters === [[Harry Reasoner]], formerly of [[CBS News]] and ''[[60 Minutes]]'', joined ABC News in 1970 to co-anchor ''ABC Evening News'' with Smith, beginning that December, replacing Reynolds. The ratings increased steadily, but still remained in third place, behind dominant CBS and NBC. In 1975, Howard K. Smith was moved to a commentator role, and Reasoner briefly assumed sole-anchor responsibilities until he was paired with [[Barbara Walters]], who became the first female network anchor when she joined the program on October 4, 1976. [[Nielsen Media Research|Ratings]] for the nightly news broadcast declined shortly thereafter, possibly due in part to the lack of chemistry between Reasoner and Walters. Reasoner would eventually return to CBS and ''60 Minutes'', while Walters became a regular on the newsmagazine ''[[20/20 (American TV program)|20/20]]''.

=== "First News" strategy (1967–1982) ===

Even in areas with three full-time network affiliates, ABC stations often opted to broadcast the news program in the 6:00 p.m./5:00 p.m. timeslot to entice viewers by presenting the day's national and international news first, thus making it more likely that they would stay tuned to the station's local newscast immediately following the program (or one half-hour afterward), instead of turning to CBS or NBC.

Starting in 1973, before the advent of [[closed captioning]], [[PBS]] began airing an [[Closed captioning#Open captioning|open captioned]] version of the ''ABC Evening News'' that was distributed to various [[Public broadcasting|public television]] stations throughout the U.S., airing mostly in late-night timeslots five hours after the original ABC broadcast. This version was produced by [[WGBH-TV|WGBH]], the Boston PBS station, which provided the captions and repackaged the broadcast with additional news stories – some of which were of special interest to the [[Deafness|hearing impaired]] – as well as late-news developments, weather forecasts, and sports scores inserted in place of commercials. It was originally titled ''The Captioned ABC Evening News'', and later as ''The Captioned ABC News'', and it was originally distributed by the [[American Public Television|Eastern Educational Network]], before becoming a national program under PBS a year later.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1973-12-03 |title=Harry and Howard for the hearing-impaired |pages=28 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting Magazine]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/73-OCR/1973-12-03-BC-OCR-Page-0028.pdf |access-date=2023-07-18 |archive-date=July 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718202526/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/73-OCR/1973-12-03-BC-OCR-Page-0028.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hamlin |first=Sonya |date=1974-04-30 |title=Interview with a transsexual coup for Hamlin |pages=47 |work=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref> The practice continued until 1982, when real-time closed captioning was first introduced in the United States by the [[National Captioning Institute]].<ref>{{cite web|title=A Brief History of Captioned Television |url=http://www.ncicap.org/caphist.asp |publisher=[[National Captioning Institute]] |access-date=April 28, 2011 |quote=The ''ABC News'' was rebroadcast on PBS five hours after its broadcast on ABC-TV. From the time ''The Captioned ABC News'' was first produced in 1973, it was the only timely newscast accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people until NCI's real-time captioning service started in 1982. |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409103759/http://www.ncicap.org/caphist.asp |archive-date=April 9, 2012 }}</ref>

=== ''World News Tonight'' (first era) ===

==== The early years (1978–1983) ==== Always the perennial third in the national ratings, ABC News president [[Roone Arledge]] reformatted the program, relaunching it as ''World News Tonight'' in July 1978.<ref name="Edgerton2010">{{cite book|author=Gary Edgerton|title=The Columbia History of American Television|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x4p3XMOeq7oC&pg=PA292|year=2010|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-51218-3|page=292|access-date=March 19, 2018|archive-date=September 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914184438/https://books.google.com/books?id=x4p3XMOeq7oC&pg=PA292|url-status=live}}</ref> Reynolds, who was demoted when the network hired Reasoner, returned as lead anchor, reporting from ABC News' Washington, D.C. bureau. [[Max Robinson]] – who became the first African American network news anchor upon his appointment on the program – anchored national news from the news division's Chicago bureau. Peter Jennings, who also returned for a second stint, reported international headlines from the division's London bureau.

Occasional contributions included special reports by Walters, who was credited as anchor of the special coverage desk from New York City and worldwide, and commentary by Smith, who was easing into eventual retirement. The program's distinct and easily identifiable theme (whose four-note musical signature was eventually used on other ABC News programs) was written by [[Bob Israel (composer)|Bob Israel]]. Ratings slowly climbed to the point where ''World News Tonight'' eventually beat both ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' and the ''[[CBS Evening News]]'', marking the first time ever that ABC had the most-watched network evening newscast.

==== Peter Jennings's second solo tenure (1983–2005) ==== In April 1983, Reynolds became ill, and ABC News brought in ''[[This Week (American TV program)|This Week]]'' moderator [[David Brinkley]] to fill in for Reynolds. This arrangement continued until July 4; when ABC news summoned Peter Jennings to leave London and anchor from Washington, leaving both him and Robinson to co-anchor the broadcast until Reynolds' planned return.<ref>{{cite web |last=Vick |first=Karl |title=ABC feeling after-effects of Frank Reynolds' illness |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IJRQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6192%2C5564077 |website=Google News Search Archive |publisher=St. Petersburg Times |access-date=November 12, 2018 |location=St. Petersburg, Florida |page=1D |date=June 21, 1983 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204024316/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IJRQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6192%2C5564077 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Reynolds died on July 20, 1983, from [[Bone tumor|bone cancer]]. A rotation of anchors hosted the program until August 9, 1983, when ABC announced that Jennings became the sole anchor and senior editor of ''World News Tonight'', which took effect September 5, and on that day, the program began broadcasting from New York City on a regular basis. [[Bill Owen (writer and announcer)|Bill Owen]] would replace Bill Rice as announcer for a year.

In September 1984, the program was renamed ''World News Tonight with Peter Jennings'' to reflect its sole anchor and senior editor. Robinson left ABC News earlier in 1984, after stints of anchoring news briefs and the weekend editions of ''World News Tonight''; he died from complications of AIDS in 1988. With Jennings as lead anchor, ''World News Tonight'' was the most-watched national newscast from February 27, 1989, to November 1, 1996, but from then on until February 2007, it placed second behind its main rival, ''NBC Nightly News''.

In April 2005, Jennings announced that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and, as before, other ABC News anchors, including ''20/20'' co-anchor [[Elizabeth Vargas]] and ''[[Good Morning America]]'' co-anchor [[Charles Gibson]], filled in for him. Jennings died of lung cancer on August 7, 2005, at his apartment in New York City, at age 67.

The August 8, 2005, edition of the program was dedicated in memory of Jennings and looked back at his four-decade career in news. His death ended the era of the so-called "Big Three" anchors: Jennings, NBC's [[Tom Brokaw]], and CBS's [[Dan Rather]] (the latter two had retired from their positions as the respective anchors of ''NBC Nightly News'' and the ''CBS Evening News'' within the year prior to Jennings's death). During his career, Jennings had reported from every major world capital and war zone, and from all 50 U.S. states, according to the network. Jennings was known for his ability to calmly portray events as they were happening and for his coverage of many major world events such as the [[September 11 attacks]] and the dawn of the new millennium.

As a tribute to its recently deceased anchor, ABC continued to introduce the broadcast as ''World News Tonight with Peter Jennings'' in the week following his death. Gibson anchored the broadcast the first part of the week, playing a slow arrangement of the traditional theme music in memory of Jennings; [[Bob Woodruff]] anchored the final edition of ''World News Tonight with Peter Jennings'' on August 12, 2005. That night's broadcast ended with one of Jennings's favorite pieces of music instead of the traditional theme music. Beginning on August 15, 2005, the broadcast was introduced simply as ''World News Tonight'' and it remained that way until January 2006.

==== Bob Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas (January–May 2006) ==== The program would return to a two-anchor format, when in early December 2005, ABC News announced that Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff would be the new permanent co-anchors of ''World News Tonight'', replacing Jennings. People in the news industry looked at the choice of Vargas and Woodruff by ABC News as the start of a new era in network television news.

The broadcast was produced live three times per day – the regular live broadcast for the Eastern and Central Time Zones, plus separate broadcasts for the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones. In addition, a live [[webcast]], ''World News Now'' (which, incidentally, carried the same title as ABC's [[World News Now|overnight news program]]), with a newsbrief and a preview of that evening's broadcast, was launched. The webcast aired live at 3:00 pm. Eastern Time on [[ABC News Live|ABC News Now]] and ABCNews.com, and could be viewed throughout the rest of the day after 4:00 pm. Eastern Time.{{Clarify|date=September 2009}}

On January 29, 2006, Woodruff and his cameraman, [[Doug Vogt]], were injured by a road-side [[improvised explosive device|bomb]] while riding in an Iraqi military convoy. Both underwent surgery at a U.S. military hospital in [[Balad, Iraq]] ({{convert|50|mi|km}} north of [[Baghdad]]). Both men incurred head injuries in the incident, even though they were both wearing body armor and helmets. Woodruff and Vogt were then evacuated to a U.S. military hospital in Germany, before later being transferred to [[Walter Reed National Military Medical Center|Bethesda Naval Hospital]] in [[Maryland]] for further treatment and released for outpatient treatment. Within a few months after Woodruff's accident, ABC News announced that Vargas was pregnant and due to give birth to her second child in late summer.

For about a month, ''Good Morning America'' co-hosts Charles Gibson and [[Diane Sawyer]] had alternated co-anchoring the newscast with Vargas. During the spring of 2006, Vargas mostly anchored the broadcast alone, becoming the first ''de facto'' solo female evening news anchor. At the time, it was unknown what ABC News planned to do until Woodruff returned to the anchor chair, which appeared not to be within the near future, and when Vargas began her maternity leave. Rumors flew that Sawyer wanted to become the sole anchor of ''World News Tonight'' to beat [[Katie Couric]]'s switch to the anchor chair at the ''CBS Evening News''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=When would Diane take over WNT |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/when_would_diane_take_over_wnt_33608.asp |magazine=[[AdWeek|TVNewser]]|date=March 9, 2006|access-date=April 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617212705/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/when_would_diane_take_over_wnt_33608.asp |archive-date=June 17, 2009| url-status= dead}}</ref> However, ''[[New York Post]]'' columnist [[Cindy Adams]] reported that Gibson would become Woodruff's "temporary permanent replacement".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Charlie Gibson WNTS Temporary Permanent Replacement |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/charlie_gibson_wnts_temporary_permanent_replacement_33753.asp |magazine=[[AdWeek|TVNewser]] |date=March 13, 2006 |access-date=April 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118210159/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/charlie_gibson_wnts_temporary_permanent_replacement_33753.asp |archive-date=January 18, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also starting in early 2006, the West Coast editions of ''World News Tonight'' were scaled back because Vargas anchored the broadcast on her own at the time.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

=== ''World News'' ===

==== Charles Gibson (2006–2009) ==== [[File:Charliegibson.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Charles Gibson]] anchored ''World News Tonight'', later ''World News'', from 2006 to 2009.]] [[File:Charles Gibson President Obama Prescription for America.jpg|220px|thumb|upright|[[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] with Gibson in the [[East Room]] of the [[White House]] during ''[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]''{{'s}} ''Prescription for America'' "[[town hall|town-hall]]"-style conversation on [[health care]], June 24, 2009.]]

In May 2006, Vargas announced her resignation from ''World News Tonight''. Charles Gibson was then named sole anchor of the program, effectively replacing Vargas and her injured co-anchor Woodruff.<ref>{{cite news|title=Charles Gibson Named Sole Anchor of 'World News Tonight' – Elizabeth Vargas to Step Down to Take Maternity Leave and Return to Co-Anchor '20/20' and Anchor ABC News Specials in the Fall|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1993658&page=1|author=|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=November 19, 2002|access-date=September 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306191452/http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1993658&page=1|archive-date=March 6, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Vargas cited her doctors' recommendation to cut back her schedule considerably because of her maternity leave, and her wish to spend more time with her new baby. She has since returned to co-anchor ''20/20'' and ABC News specials, and has served as a substitute anchor on ''World News Tonight'' under Gibson and his successors.

Woodruff, although still recovering from his injuries, returned to ''World News Tonight'' as a correspondent on February 28, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gibson Takes Over ''World News Tonight'' |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-abcnews-charlesgibson%2C0%2C4657972.story |publisher=[[Zap2it]] |date=May 26, 2006 |access-date=September 24, 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208001757/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-abcnews-charlesgibson%2C0%2C4657972.story |archive-date=February 8, 2015 }}</ref>

Some media analysts found the reasons for the appointment of Gibson as anchor to be merely a cover for ABC News's real intentions to bring stability to its flagship news program, which had seen its ratings slip, and to attract some older viewers away from the ''CBS Evening News'' with interim anchor [[Bob Schieffer]].<ref>{{cite news|title=ABC News Turns to Morning Host to Take on Couric|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/05/24/MNGLAJ16031.DTL|author=Joe Garofoli|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=May 24, 2006|access-date=September 24, 2009|archive-date=June 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617225241/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/05/24/MNGLAJ16031.DTL|url-status=dead}}</ref> Indeed, the advertising campaign focused on Gibson's experience, calling him "Your Trusted Source", similar to a campaign for Jennings, "Trust Is Earned", in the wake of the [[Killian documents controversy]] at CBS and [[Brian Williams]]'s assumption of the NBC anchor chair.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Charles Gibson: Your Trusted Source |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/charles_gibson_your_trusted_source_37588.asp|magazine=[[AdWeek|TVNewser]]|date=May 29, 2006|access-date=April 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617212659/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/charles_gibson_your_trusted_source_37588.asp |archive-date=June 17, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On July 19, 2006, ABC News announced that ''World News Tonight'' would have its name officially changed to ''World News with Charles Gibson''.<ref>{{cite news|title=ABC's Flagship Newscast Changes Name to 'World News With Charles Gibson' – New Name Reflects Program's Place in the 24-Hour Digital Space|url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2211037|author=|work=ABC News|date=July 19, 2006|access-date=September 24, 2009|archive-date=June 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618002201/http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2211037|url-status=live}}</ref> The network chose to make the, albeit minor, change to remove "Tonight" from the title to reflect the program's expansion into the "24-hour space created by the digital world".<ref name=tvn-tonightisback />

In the February 2007 sweeps, ''World News with Charles Gibson'' achieved the number-one spot in the [[Nielsen Media Research|Nielsen ratings]] among the network evening news broadcasts, overtaking ''NBC Nightly News'', marking ABC News' first victory since the week Jennings died in August 2005.

''World News with Charles Gibson'' won the May 2007 sweeps period decisively over ''NBC Nightly News'', marking Gibson's second consecutive sweeps win and widening the program's lead in the evening news race. It was the first time that ''World News'' had won consecutive sweeps periods since 1996, the year ABC News ceded the ratings crown to ''NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw''. ''NBC Nightly News'' retook first place in the November 2007 sweeps<ref>{{cite news|title=Evening News Ratings: Williams Tops Gibson In November Sweeps|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/evening-news-williams-tops-gibson-in-nov-sweeps|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 4, 2007|access-date=February 14, 2010|archive-date=June 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612012049/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/evening-news-williams-tops-gibson-in-nov-sweeps|url-status=live}}</ref> and the two programs remained in a tight race until the fall of 2008, when the NBC program established a consistent lead.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Matrix of News Winners Buoys NBC|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/business/media/09nbc.html|work=The New York Times|date=March 8, 2009|access-date=February 23, 2017|archive-date=August 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827132801/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/business/media/09nbc.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On August 25, 2008, ''World News'' became the fourth and final network evening newscast to begin broadcasting in [[high-definition television|HD]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/exclusive-world-news-kicks-hd-expansion-abc-33094|title=EXCLUSIVE: World News Kicks Off HD Expansion at ABC|last=Dickson|first=Glen|date=August 25, 2008|website=Broadcasting & Cable|language=en-us|access-date=April 26, 2020|archive-date=May 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518073150/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/exclusive-world-news-kicks-hd-expansion-abc-33094|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 2, 2009, ABC News announced that Gibson would retire from ABC News altogether on December 18, 2009, and that Sawyer would assume the anchor desk on December 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=ABC Plans Low-Key Handoff for 'World News'|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/in-a-low-key-hand-off-abcs-gibson-to-depart-on-dec-11/|author=Brian Stelter|author2=Bill Carter|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 1, 2009|access-date=December 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204173900/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/in-a-low-key-hand-off-abcs-gibson-to-depart-on-dec-11/|archive-date= December 4, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=December 2009|reason=rather loose interpretation of source cited}} Gibson's final broadcast ended with a video tribute that included all of the living former U.S. Presidents, former ABC anchors, actors and actresses, singers, comedians, [[Mickey Mouse]], [[Kermit the Frog]], athletes, the commander of the [[International Space Station]], competitors Couric and Williams, and was capped off by U.S. President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Charles Gibson, last broadcast|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx3KDaI3nVg|publisher=YouTube|access-date=February 3, 2010|archive-date=July 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707103644/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx3KDaI3nVg|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Diane Sawyer May 2014 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Diane Sawyer]] was the anchor of ''World News'' from 2009 to 2014.]] [[File:TssNY.JPG|thumb|upright|Advertisement for ''World News'' (left) outside of [[Times Square Studios]] in 2010]]

==== Diane Sawyer (2009–2014) ==== Long-time ABC journalist and anchorwoman [[Diane Sawyer]] (who previously co-anchored ''[[Good Morning America]]'' with predecessor Gibson) began anchoring the broadcast, which amended its title to ''ABC World News'', on December 21, 2009. On that date, the program debuted an updated set, new graphics during the introductory segment, along with a new announcer, [[Mike Rowe]] (then host of [[Discovery Channel]]'s ''[[Dirty Jobs]]''), who replaced longtime announcer Bill Rice.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Much Cleaner Job for Mike Rowe: The Voice of 'World News with Diane Sawyer|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/10/stephanopoulos-role-grows-at-abc-028386|author=Chris Ariens|publisher=[[Politico]]|date=December 22, 2009|access-date=December 22, 2009|archive-date=October 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019090403/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28386.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A new set for the program debuted on August 23, 2010.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=ABC Unveils New 'World News' Set |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/abc_unveils_new_world_news_set_171487.asp |magazine=[[AdWeek|TVNewser]] |date=August 23, 2010 |access-date=April 28, 2011 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030122956/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/abc_unveils_new_world_news_set_171487.asp |archive-date=October 30, 2014 }}</ref> Substitute anchors for the program during Sawyer's tenure when she was away or on assignment, in addition to Vargas, included David Muir (who by that point, anchored the weekend editions of ''World News'' and served as a weekday correspondent), [[George Stephanopoulos]], [[Cynthia McFadden]], Dan Harris, [[Paula Faris]] and [[Byron Pitts]] (with the exception of McFadden, who left ABC News in August 2014, most of these anchors/correspondents have also served as substitutes following Muir's appointment as anchor of the program).<ref>{{cite news|title=George Stephanopoulos Role Grows at ABC|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/10/stephanopoulos-role-grows-at-abc-028386|author=Mike Allen|work=Politico|date=October 18, 2009|access-date=December 30, 2009|archive-date=October 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019090403/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28386.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Sawyer tenure was marked by a shift towards more "[[soft media|news you can use]]" features, and less of a focus on hard international news.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tyndall: ABC spends half its evening newscast on 'soft news'|url=http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/149929/tyndall-abc-spends-half-its-evening-newscast-on-soft-news/|author=Julie Moos|publisher=[[The Poynter Institute for Media Studies|Poynter]]|date=October 18, 2011|access-date=October 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927082135/http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/149929/tyndall-abc-spends-half-its-evening-newscast-on-soft-news/|archive-date=September 27, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''World News'' at the time had a 60% female viewership, the highest of the three major network evening newscasts.<ref>{{cite web|title=New life in television's evening news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/life-televisions-evening-news-105534857.html|author=David Bauder|publisher=[[Yahoo News]]|date=October 17, 2011|access-date=October 7, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927215038/http://news.yahoo.com/life-televisions-evening-news-105534857.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 1, 2012, ''World News'' debuted a new logo, opening theme (which was composed by [[Hans Zimmer]], replacing the longtime Bob Israel-composed theme), an updated set and new graphics package. The program also introduced a segment called the "Instant Index", a feature appearing as the penultimate segment of each night's broadcast focusing on news stories that are trending on social media, [[popular culture|pop culture]] and entertainment-related stories and [[viral video]]s. Another feature introduced during Sawyer's tenure was "Made in America", a feature segment reported by David Muir, chronicling enterprising American companies.

On June 25, 2014, ABC News announced that Sawyer would step down as the weekday anchor of ''ABC World News''; Sawyer would be succeeded by the program's then weekend anchor, David Muir, effective September 2.<ref name="SawyerStepDown">{{cite news|title=Diane Sawyer to Step Down as 'World News' Anchor|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/diane-sawyer-step-world-news-anchor/story?id=24295283|work=ABC News|date=June 25, 2014|access-date=August 5, 2014|archive-date=May 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523161154/https://abcnews.go.com/US/diane-sawyer-step-world-news-anchor/story?id=24295283|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Diane Sawyer stepping down from ABC's 'World News'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/06/25/diane-sawyer-stepping-down-from-abc-world-news-david-muir/11348847/|work=[[USA Today]]|date=June 25, 2014|access-date=August 23, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201145524/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/06/25/diane-sawyer-stepping-down-from-abc-world-news-david-muir/11348847/|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 28, 2014, the program debuted a slightly updated set, which includes a new, larger monitor behind the anchor desk. Diane Sawyer ultimately decided to end her tenure as anchor of ''ABC World News'' nearly a week before Muir began as anchor of the weeknight editions on August 27, 2014, to spend time with family.<ref>{{cite web|title=See you tonight for my last night anchoring @ABCWorldNews – great adventures ahead !|url=https://twitter.com/DianeSawyer/status/504672866903007232|author=Diane Sawyer|publisher=Twitter|date=August 27, 2014|access-date=August 28, 2014|archive-date=September 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915125741/https://twitter.com/DianeSawyer/status/504672866903007232|url-status=live}}</ref> By the time Sawyer left ''World News'', the program was the No. 1 network evening newscast in all major key demographics and significantly closed the ratings gap with ''NBC Nightly News'' in total viewership.<ref>{{cite news|title="World News" Wins Among Adults 25–54 and Adults 18–49 with Largest Margins Since 2007|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/09/world-news-wins-among-adults-25-54-and-adults-18-49-with-largest-margins-since-2007/|work=ABC News|date=September 2014|access-date=June 27, 2020|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129014859/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/09/world-news-wins-among-adults-25-54-and-adults-18-49-with-largest-margins-since-2007/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== ''World News Tonight'' (second era) ===

==== David Muir (2014–present) ==== [[File:President Trump Visits Honeywell International Inc. (49863547766).jpg|thumb|right|Muir interviewing [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]] in 2020]] David Muir became the weekday anchor and managing editor of the program on September 1, 2014, while retaining his duties as co-anchor of ''20/20''.<ref name="ET20140827">{{cite web|title=Meet David Muir, the Man Taking Over ABC's 'World News'|url=http://www.etonline.com/tv/150472_meet_david_muir_the_man_taking_over_abc_world_news/|work=[[Entertainment Tonight]]|date=August 27, 2014|access-date=August 29, 2014|archive-date=December 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207084304/http://www.etonline.com/tv/150472_meet_david_muir_the_man_taking_over_abc_world_news|url-status=live}}</ref> At the same time, ''Good Morning America'' co-host [[George Stephanopoulos]] assumed the news division's Chief Anchor position that had traditionally been assigned to the anchor of ''World News''.<ref name=usatoday>{{cite web|title=ABC News changes mark a big 'turning point'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/06/25/abc-news-diane-sawyer-david-muir-george-stephanopoulos/11358871/|author=Gary Levin|date=June 25, 2014|work=USA Today|access-date=June 26, 2014|issn=0734-7456|archive-date=June 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626023402/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/06/25/abc-news-diane-sawyer-david-muir-george-stephanopoulos/11358871/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the departure of Diane Sawyer, the title of the program was also silently rebranded back to ''World News Tonight'' for the first time since 2006, albeit with "ABC" attached to the title.<ref name=tvn-tonightisback>{{cite news|title=ABC Brings 'Tonight' Back to 'World News'|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/abc-brings-tonight-back-to-world-news/|work=[[AdWeek|TVNewser]]|date=August 29, 2014|access-date=August 29, 2014|archive-date=August 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831070412/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc-brings-tonight-back-to-world-news_b237164|url-status=live}}</ref> Primary substitutes are Stephanopoulos, [[Rebecca Jarvis]], and [[Amy Robach]].

''World News Tonight'' has broadcast from San Bernardino, Orlando, Paris, and Brussels after terrorist attacks, and from Dallas after [[2016 shooting of Dallas police officers|five policemen were shot dead in July 2016]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-david-muir-abc--world-news-anniversary-20160826-snap-story.html|title=ABC's 'World News Tonight' anchor David Muir reflects on two years behind the desk|date=September 5, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 25, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=April 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413071303/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-david-muir-abc--world-news-anniversary-20160826-snap-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2016, ''World News Tonight'' was the most-watched network primetime newscast for the first time in 18 years. The last time ''World News'' held the top spot was during the 1998–99 season when Peter Jennings sat at the anchor's desk, according to Nielsen.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/article/2016/11/30/world-news-tonight-no-1-first-time-18-years/|title=World News Tonight Is No. 1 for First Time in 18 years|date=November 30, 2016|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=April 25, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

''World News Tonight'' was the most-watched network evening newscast for the week of March 30, 2015. This marked the first time in seven years that the program finished at No. 1, beating out ''NBC Nightly News'' in all categories.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/abc-world-news-tonight-is-no-1-for-first-time-in-7-years/259965|title=ABC World News Tonight is No. 1 For First Time in 7 years|work=adweek.com|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=July 1, 2015|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627183906/http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/abc-world-news-tonight-is-no-1-for-first-time-in-7-years/259965|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 10, 2020, '' World News Tonight'' marked 11 consecutive weeks as "America's Most-Watched Show".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/week-of-aug-10-evening-news-ratings/452147/|title=Week of Aug. 10 Evening News Ratings: World News Tonight Marks 11 Consecutive Weeks as America's Most-Watched Show|website=adweek.it|date=August 18, 2020|language=en-US|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=January 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124091025/https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/week-of-aug-10-evening-news-ratings/452147/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 8, 2020, ''World News Tonight'' debuted a new title card, reintroduced the long-time Bob Israel-composed opening theme (replacing the Hans Zimmer theme), and revealed an updated set and new graphics package.

On October 26, 2023, ''World News Tonight'' began posting full broadcasts to ABC News' [[YouTube]] channel.

On March 7, 2025, ''World News Tonight'' re-located to Disney's new campus at [[7 Hudson Square]], maintaining a relatively similar (albeit upgraded) studio.<ref>{{cite web |title=ABC's 'World News Tonight' maintains visual identity in move to Hudson Square facility |url=https://www.newscaststudio.com/2025/03/10/abc-world-news-tonight-studio-hudson-square/ |website=NewscastStudio |access-date=March 10, 2025}}</ref>

== Anchors ==

=== Weekdays === {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * [[H. R. Baukhage]] and Jim Gibbons (''[[News and Views (TV series)|News and Views]]'', August 11, 1948{{spaced ndash}} March 30, 1951)<ref>Shedden, David (April 4, 2006; updated September 8, 2011). [http://www.poynter.org/uncategorized/74607/early-tv-anchors "Early TV Anchors"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222161822/http://www.poynter.org/uncategorized/74607/early-tv-anchors/ |date=December 22, 2015 }}. [[Poynter Institute]]. Retrieved January 1, 2013.</ref> * Unknown (''[[After the Deadlines]]'', April 2, 1951{{spaced ndash}} October 3, 1952) * [[Bryson Rash]], [[Pauline Frederick (journalist)|Pauline Frederick]], Gordon Fraser and [[Leo Cherne]] (''All-Star News'', October 6, 1952{{spaced ndash}} January 2, 1953 – primetime news, one hour Mondays and Wednesdays, half hour other nights) * ABC network had no evening news broadcast Monday through Friday (January 5, 1953{{spaced ndash}} October 9, 1953) * [[John Charles Daly|John Daly]] (''John Daly and the News'', October 12, 1953{{spaced ndash}} September 12, 1958) * [[Don Goddard]] (''ABC News'', September 15, 1958{{spaced ndash}} May 8, 1959, at 7:15–7:30 ([[Eastern Time|Eastern]] and [[Pacific Time]]), followed three hours later by ''John Daly and the News'' at 10:30–10:45 (Eastern and Pacific)) * [[John Daly (American media personality, born 1914)|John Daly]] (''John Daly and the News'', May 11, 1959{{spaced ndash}} December 16, 1960) * [[Bill Shadel]] (''ABC Evening Report'', December 19, 1960{{spaced ndash}} September 22, 1961) * [[Bill Lawrence (news personality)|Bill Lawrence]], [[Al Mann]] and [[John Cameron Swayze]] (''ABC Evening Report'', September 25, 1961{{spaced ndash}} March 23, 1962, at 6 or 7, followed four or five hours later by 10-minute ''ABC News Final'' with [[Ron Cochran]]) * [[Ron Cochran]] (''ABC Evening Report'', March 26, 1962{{spaced ndash}} January 29, 1965) also anchorman for 10-minute news at 11{{nbsp}}pm until March 29, 1963; followed on the late news by Murphy Martin (April 2, 1963{{spaced ndash}} January 3, 1964) and [[Bob Young (news anchor)|Bob Young]] (January 6, 1964{{spaced ndash}} January 8, 1965)<ref>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1964/01/03/118649794.html "Miscellaneous Notes", ''The New York Times'' (January 3, 1964, p.49)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914184440/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1964/01/03/118649794.html |date=September 14, 2023 }} Retrieved October 26, 2018</ref> * [[Peter Jennings]] (''Peter Jennings with the News'', February 1, 1965{{spaced ndash}} October 13, 1967 – program expanded to half-hour as ''ABC News'' on January 9, 1967) * Bob Young (''ABC News'', October 16, 1967{{spaced ndash}} May 24, 1968) * [[Frank Reynolds]] (''ABC News'', May 27, 1968{{spaced ndash}} May 16, 1969) * [[Frank Reynolds]] and [[Howard K. Smith]] (''ABC News'', May 19, 1969{{spaced ndash}} December 4, 1970)<ref>Auster, Albert (undated). [http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=smithhoward "Smith, Howard K."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805122035/http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=smithhoward |date=August 5, 2012 }}. [[Museum of Broadcast Communications]]. Retrieved January 1, 2012.</ref> * [[Howard K. Smith]] and [[Harry Reasoner]] (''ABC Evening News'', December 7, 1970{{spaced ndash}} September 5, 1975) * [[Harry Reasoner]] (''ABC Evening News'', September 8, 1975{{spaced ndash}} October 1, 1976) * [[Harry Reasoner]] and [[Barbara Walters]] (''ABC Evening News'', October 4, 1976{{spaced ndash}} July 7, 1978) * [[Frank Reynolds]], [[Max Robinson]] and [[Peter Jennings]] (''World News Tonight'', July 10, 1978{{spaced ndash}} April 20, 1983) * [[Max Robinson]] and [[Peter Jennings]] (''World News Tonight'', April 23, 1983{{spaced ndash}} August 8, 1983) * [[Peter Jennings]] (''World News Tonight with Peter Jennings'', August 9, 1983{{spaced ndash}} April 5, 2005) * Interim anchors [[Charles Gibson]], [[Elizabeth Vargas]] and [[Bob Woodruff]] (''World News Tonight with Peter Jennings'', April 6, 2005{{spaced ndash}} August 12, 2005; ''World News Tonight'', August 15, 2005{{spaced ndash}} January 2, 2006)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/05/business/media/abc-names-anchors-of-world-news-tonight.html|title=ABC Names Anchors of 'World News Tonight'|date=December 5, 2005|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 28, 2019|language=en-US|archive-date=February 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228191922/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/05/business/media/abc-names-anchors-of-world-news-tonight.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Bob Woodruff]] and [[Elizabeth Vargas]] (''World News Tonight with Bob Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas'', January 3 {{spaced ndash}} May 26, 2006) * [[Charles Gibson]] (''World News with Charles Gibson'', May 29, 2006{{spaced ndash}} December 18, 2009) * [[Diane Sawyer]] (''ABC World News with Diane Sawyer'', December 21, 2009 – August 27, 2014) * [[David Muir]] (''ABC World News Tonight with David Muir'', since September 1, 2014) {{div col end}}

=== Weekends === {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * [[Ted Koppel]] (Saturday edition, 1975–1977) * [[Tom Jarriel]] and Sylvia Chase (Saturday edition, 1977–1979) * [[Sam Donaldson]] (Sunday edition, 1979–1989) * [[Kathleen Sullivan (journalist)|Kathleen Sullivan]] (Saturday edition, 1985–1987) * [[Barry Serafin]] (Saturday edition, 1987–1988) * [[Carole Simpson]] (Saturday edition, 1988–1993; Sunday edition, 1993–2003) * [[Forrest Sawyer]] (Sunday edition, 1989–1993) * [[Aaron Brown (journalist)|Aaron Brown]] (Saturday edition, 1993–1997) * [[Elizabeth Vargas]] (Saturday edition, 1997–2003; Sunday edition, 2003–2004) * [[Terry Moran]] (Sunday edition, 2004–2005)<ref name =Porter>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/terry-moran-out-abc-news-1236261876/5|title=Terry Moran Out at ABC News|first=Rick|last=Porter|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|date=June 10, 2025|access-date=June 27, 2025}}</ref> * [[Bob Woodruff]] (Saturday edition, 2004–2005) * [[Jim Avila]] (Saturday edition, 2006–2007) * [[Dan Harris (journalist)|Dan Harris]] (Sunday edition, 2006–2011) * [[David Muir]] (Saturday edition, 2007–2011; weekends, 2011–2014) * [[Cecilia Vega]] (Saturday edition, 2015–2017) * [[Tom Llamas]] (Sunday edition, 2015–2017; weekends, 2017–2021, now at [[NBC News]]) * [[Whit Johnson]] (Saturday edition, 2021–present) * [[Linsey Davis]] (Sunday edition, 2021–present) {{div col end}}

== Weekend newscasts == {{Infobox television | caption = | image = ABC World News Tonight Weekend 2021.png | genre = [[Television news|Weekend news show]] | presenter = [[Whit Johnson]] (Saturday) [[Linsey Davis]] (Sunday) | country = United States | language = English | location = [[New York City]] | camera = Multi-camera | runtime = 30 minutes | network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] | first_aired = {{Start date|1975|07|05}} | last_aired = present | related = }} ABC first attempted an early evening weekend newscast in July 1975, when it debuted a Saturday bulletin that was anchored by [[Ted Koppel]] and taken over by [[Tom Jarriel]] and [[Sylvia Chase]] in 1977. The broadcast, however, was not carried by many stations, and was cancelled in January 1979.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Following the Saturday news cancellation, and after the flagship weeknight broadcast became ''World News Tonight'', the program premiered ''World News Sunday'' on January 28, 1979, and expanded to a full seven days with the restoration of a Saturday newscast (''World News Saturday'') on January 5, 1985, years after NBC and CBS had each launched their own weekend evening news programs. These editions added the word "Tonight" to the program title in the mid-1990s, further unifying it with the weekday editions, and in the mid-2000s, their respective names were shortened uniformly to ''World News Tonight'' to correspond with those broadcasts. However, the original names were restored on July 19, 2006, concurrent with the retitling of the weekday broadcasts, but the opening title sequence displayed the name as ''World News'' for both the Saturday and Sunday editions.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Prior to 1975, the only network newscasts that ABC stations broadcast on weekends were 15-minute late-night updates on Saturdays and Sundays, known as ''ABC Weekend News'' and later, ''ABC News Weekend Report''. The programs were fed to affiliates at 11:00{{nbsp}}pm Eastern/10:00{{nbsp}}pm Central and were seen in tandem with the stations' own late newscasts, although some stations opted to [[broadcast delay|tape-delay]] the network updates until immediately before their regular [[Sign-on and sign-off#Sign-off/closedown|sign-off]] time (rival CBS also offered a 15-minute Sunday night bulletin during the 1970s until 1997). Because of declining affiliate interest (in part because of the proliferation of 24-hour cable news channels such as [[CNN]]) and low viewership, ABC discontinued the late-night weekend reports in September 1991.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

In addition, starting in 1973, weeknight co-anchor Harry Reasoner hosted ''The Reasoner Report'', a half-hour topical analysis of important stories (especially breaking developments in the [[Watergate scandal]]) in the vein of CBS's ''60 Minutes'', which Reasoner himself co-moderated at two different times. Affiliates usually carried the program on Saturday evenings in the time slots where the main newscast aired on weeknights. In addition, starting in 1973, weeknight co-anchor Harry Reasoner hosted The Reasoner Report, a half-hour newsmagazine program featuring analysis and commentary on major news stories. The program was cancelled in 1975.(see above).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21242734/ |title=The Reasoner Report (1973–1975) |website=IMDb |access-date=27 March 2026 }}</ref>

Some former anchors of the weekend news broadcasts include [[Sam Donaldson]] (Sunday edition, 1979–1989), [[Kathleen Sullivan (journalist)|Kathleen Sullivan]] (Saturday edition, 1985–1987), [[Barry Serafin]] (Saturday edition, 1987–1988), [[Forrest Sawyer]] (Sunday edition, 1989–1993), [[Carole Simpson]] (Saturday edition, 1988–1993; Sunday edition, 1993–2003), [[Elizabeth Vargas]] (Saturday edition, 1997–2003; Sunday edition, 2003–2004), [[Jim Avila]] (Saturday edition, 2006–2007), [[Terry Moran]] (Saturday edition, 2004–2005), [[Bob Woodruff]] (Sunday edition, 2004–2005), [[Dan Harris (journalist)|Dan Harris]] (Sunday edition, 2006–2011) and [[David Muir]] (Saturday edition, 2007–2011; Saturday and Sunday editions, 2011–2014). Muir, who had taken over ''World News Saturday'' in 2007, took over the Sunday broadcast in 2011, ending the practice of using separate anchors for the Saturday and Sunday editions of the program, with ABC renaming both broadcasts as ''ABC World News with David Muir'' as a result. David Muir anchored the weekend program until he took over the weekday broadcast in September 2014. The program returned to using separate anchors for the weekend broadcasts afterward, with [[Cecilia Vega]] being named anchor of the Saturday broadcast and [[Tom Llamas]] named anchor of the Sunday edition in February 2015. After Vega was named senior White House correspondent, Llamas was named sole weekend anchor in January 2017, as the practice of using separate anchors for the Saturday and Sunday editions ended once again. Llamas subsequently left in January 2021, to join [[NBC News]]. In February 2021, [[Whit Johnson]] and Linsey Davis were announced as anchors of the weekend edition, with Johnson anchoring on Saturday and Davis anchoring on Sunday.<ref>{{cite news|title=Linsey Davis, Whit Johnson To Anchor Weekend 'World News Tonight'|work=Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/linsey-davis-whit-johnson-world-news-tonight-abc-news-1234684585/|author=Ted Johnson|date=February 1, 2021|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=February 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201160056/https://deadline.com/2021/02/linsey-davis-whit-johnson-world-news-tonight-abc-news-1234684585/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some ABC affiliates air the Saturday and Sunday editions of ''World News Tonight'' at 6:00{{nbsp}}p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time (5:00{{nbsp}}p.m. Central and Mountain){{nsmdns}}one half-hour earlier than the weekday broadcasts. The weekend editions of ''World News Tonight'' may periodically be abbreviated or preempted outright due to [[ESPN on ABC|sports telecasts]] that overrun into its [[wikt:timeslot|timeslot]] or occasionally air immediately following the program (the latter preemption situation commonly affects stations in the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones); this is particularly common during fall, as the Saturday broadcast does not air at all from September through mid December due to [[College Football on ABC|ABC's college football coverage]] and during the winter and spring, when the Sunday broadcast is sometimes delayed or preempted due to overruns of [[NBA on ABC|the network's NBA telecasts]].{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

== International newscasts == ABC News programs, including ''ABC World News Tonight'', are shown for several hours a day on the 24-hour news network [[OSN News]] in [[Middle East and North Africa|MENA]] Region.

Various cable companies in the [[Caribbean]] previously simulcasted ''ABC World News Tonight'' from then-Miami affiliate [[WPLG]]. Similarly, cable companies in [[Canada]] simulcast the program with most airing from either Seattle-based [[KOMO-TV|KOMO]], Boston-based [[WCVB-TV|WCVB]], or Detroit-based [[WXYZ-TV|WXYZ]] which operate as [[timeshift channel]]s.

In the United Kingdom, the program was shown Tuesday through Fridays at 1:30 a.m. on [[BBC News (British TV channel)|BBC News]], a channel that is frequently [[simulcast]] by [[BBC One]] at this time, meaning the program was broadcast on [[analog television|analogue]] terrestrial television in many parts of that country until the digital transition. The newscast was aired on a delay, in part because of the need to remove commercial advertisements, as the BBC's domestic channels operate as commercial-free services via a [[Television licence|television license fee]], replacing them with [[promo (media)|promotions]] for different BBC News special programs. The program was replaced by ''[[Asia Business Report]]'' and ''[[BBC Sportsday|Sport Today]]'' on June 14, 2011, but later returned to the channel on August 20, 2012. It was also available on the BBC's on-demand service [[BBC iPlayer]] for 28 days after its domestic broadcast. The program was replaced again by Asia Business Report and Sport Today on March 30, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04j5j0j | title=BBC News Channel – ABC World News Tonight with David Muir | access-date=October 7, 2016 | archive-date=October 18, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018153953/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04j5j0j | url-status=live }}</ref>

In Australia, ''WNT'' was aired every morning at 10:30 am. AET on [[Sky News Australia]] until it was moved to [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]] and [[SBS Viceland]] in July 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Knox |first1=David |title=SBS secures news content from ABC (USA) |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/07/sbs-secures-news-content-from-abc-usa.html |access-date=July 31, 2019 |work=TV Tonight |date=July 1, 2019 |language=en-AU |archive-date=August 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819134008/https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/07/sbs-secures-news-content-from-abc-usa.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''WNT'' previously broadcast on New Zealand-based [[TVNZ Duke]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Television and Radio - The University of Auckland Library |url=https://collections.library.auckland.ac.nz/tv-radio/programme/abc-world-news |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=collections.library.auckland.ac.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=TVNZ axes local news staff |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/the-diary-part-two-shock-as-tvnz-axes-local-news-staff/NIIGEN33WBSSDBYSKUQXEZ5RK4/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

In Hong Kong, the program was broadcast live on [[TVB Pearl]] daily at 07:30 until 08:00 [[Hong Kong Time|HKT]] until May 31, 2009, when it was replaced by ''NBC Nightly News''.

In Japan, it airs on [[NHK|NHK BS 1]] as part of the weekday morning program ''Catch! Sekai no Top News (Catch the Global Top News)''<ref>{{cite web |title=キャッチ!世界のトップニュース |trans-title=Catch! Sekai no Top News |url=https://www.nhk.jp/p/ts/KQ2GPZPJWM/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907141910/https://www.nhk.jp/p/ts/KQ2GPZPJWM/ |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |access-date=September 7, 2022 |publisher=[[NHK]] }}</ref> and later on ''World News'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=ワールドニュース |trans-title=World News |url=https://www.nhk.jp/p/ts/61ZWY1XPJJ/ |access-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907154924/https://www.nhk.jp/p/ts/61ZWY1XPJJ/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and in clip form during the [[Test of English as a Foreign Language|English language]] educational program ''Kōryaku! ABC News Eigo (Strategies! ABC News English)'' until its end in March 2021.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=攻略！ＡＢＣニュース英語 |trans-title=Kōryaku! ABC News Eigo |url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/archives/chronicle/detail/?crnid=A202103270545001301100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907140409/https://www.nhk.or.jp/archives/chronicle/detail/?crnid=A202103270545001301100 |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |access-date=September 7, 2022 |publisher=NHK }}</ref>

In [[Belize]], [[Great Belize Television]] carries all editions of ''World News Tonight'' each weekday at 8:00 p.m. and weekends at 7:00 p.m.

== Radio broadcast == Fargo-based radio station [[WDAY (AM)|WDAY-AM]] simulcasts the weekday version of the program from local ABC affiliate [[WDAY-TV|WDAY]]/[[KBMY]]/[[WDAZ-TV|WDAZ]]/[[KBMY|KMCY]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-26 |title=ABC World News Tonight |url=https://www.wdayradionow.com/shows/abc-world-news-tonight |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=WDAY Radio |language=en |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825092652/https://www.wdayradionow.com/shows/abc-world-news-tonight |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notes== {{notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{official website}} * {{IMDb title|id=0184090}} (includes production details on ''World News Tonight'' and ''World News'') * [http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/ABCnews.html ABC News themes]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abc World News}} [[Category:ABC News]] [[Category:American Broadcasting Company original programming]] [[Category:1948 American television series debuts]] [[Category:1940s American television news shows]] [[Category:1950s American television news shows]] [[Category:1960s American television news shows]] [[Category:1970s American television news shows]] [[Category:1980s American television news shows]] [[Category:1990s American television news shows]] [[Category:2000s American television news shows]] [[Category:2010s American television news shows]] [[Category:2020s American television news shows]] [[Category:English-language American television shows]] [[Category:Peabody Award–winning television programs]] [[Category:Flagship evening news shows]] [[Category:Television shows filmed in New York City]]