Shutdown as Ratings Winner for Network Sunday Shows — Amid Major Data Shakeup at Nielsen

Sean James Oct 8th, 2025, 4:41 pm

The government shutdown may not be great for America — but it is good for ratings, apparently.

NBC’s scored key demographic wins on Sunday, according to new Nielsen ratings data shared with Mediaite on Wednesday, as the news show focused on the shutdown and had interviews with top Democratic and Republican politicians.

averaged 371,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo, and 259,000 viewers in the 18-49 demo — making it the top Sunday public affairs on network TV in both categories and giving it bragging rights over ABC and CBS. But it was not the only winner last Sunday.

The half hour edition of Face on CBS earned the gold medal in terms of total viewers, with 2.47 mil

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