With ratings plummeting and public trust waning, insiders point to a deeper crisis brewing behind ABC’s polished façade — and many believe The View’s spiraling controversies may be dragging the whole network down with it.

For the first time in modern television history, ABC News—long seen as a legacy media titan—has fallen behind both Fox News and NBC News in critical viewership metrics. According to recently released Nielsen ratings, Fox News has officially taken the lead across multiple categories in the second quarter of 2025, while NBC News’ surprising rise under Tom Yamas has shaken Disney’s media empire to its core. And if insiders are to be believed, this isn’t just about ratings—this is about identity, brand erosion, and a cultural collapse.

The Numbers That Stung

In Q2 2025, Fox News averaged over 3 million prime-time viewers, beating ABC’s 2.9 million and NBC’s 2.7 million. Even more telling was Fox’s dominance in the highly-coveted 25–54 demographic, pulling in 350,000 viewers, compared to ABC’s and NBC’s underwhelming results. That wasn’t a one-off: Fox captured 62% of cable news audience share during the day and 63% in prime time—a staggering figure in an era of cord-cutting.

But Fox wasn’t the only one rising. NBC Nightly News, under fresh anchor Tom Yamas, scored a historic victory over ABC’s flagship “World News Tonight with David Muir” in the same 25–54 demo. It marked the first time that ABC lost to NBC in that category in recent memory—and it happened just weeks after Yamas took over.

David Muir’s Slipping Grip

For years, David Muir was ABC’s ratings rock—steady, trusted, and camera-perfect. But his recent ratings stumble, amplified by tone-deaf moments like appearing in a tight black T-shirt during coverage of tragic Texas floods, has sparked mockery and confusion inside the Disney-owned newsroom. Even Megyn Kelly weighed in, calling out the “PR-styled theatrics” at a time when seriousness was expected.

While such optics might seem trivial, they reflect a deeper problem at ABC News: a brand that’s become too stylized, too performative, and increasingly out of step with viewers looking for substance over polish.

Disney’s Miscalculated Integration

This decline doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It comes after Disney’s much-publicized effort to make ABC News a cornerstone of its streaming strategy by embedding it into Disney+. Back in 2024, executives heralded 24/7 ABC News availability on the platform as a game-changer. Yet, what was billed as a breakthrough now feels like a misfire, with viewers apparently preferring alternative, less politically entangled sources of news.

That’s where the culture wars come in.

The View Effect: When Politics Overpowers Journalism

Many observers point to ABC’s daytime talk show, “The View,” as a major contributor to the network’s credibility crisis. Officially classified under ABC News, the show frequently veers into polarizing political territory. In one particularly viral clip, co-host Sunny Hostin questioned the legitimacy of law enforcement, warning of a coming “reckoning.” Regardless of political leanings, such remarks—aired on a national network during daytime television—have caused ripples far beyond the show’s intended audience.

Reports even allege that Disney CEO Bob Iger attempted to rein in the show’s extremism, only to be dismissed. This public display of division has damaged ABC’s reputation as a balanced, objective source of news, according to media analysts. In an industry that depends on trust, such moments are not easily forgotten.

NBC’s Bold Gamble Pays Off

While ABC appears lost in internal discord, NBC News has doubled down on journalistic clarity and generational change. Tom Yamas, relatively unknown outside industry circles, now commands attention and respect. Since his June 2nd debut, his more grounded, measured delivery has reportedly drawn in younger viewers looking for “a grown-up in the room.” His success, insiders say, is not due to flash—but to trustworthiness.

Advertisers are taking note. Industry sources confirm that brands are already reevaluating their media buys, with some shifting dollars from ABC News toward NBC. And with ABC showing an 8% year-over-year drop in the key demo while NBC gained 9%, the momentum shift is undeniable.

A Crisis of Identity—and a Call for Course Correction

This is more than just a battle for ratings. It’s a referendum on what audiences want from news media in 2025. As cable competes with streaming, and legacy brands try to stay relevant amid political noise, ABC News finds itself in an existential bind. Should it double down on cultural commentary, or return to the middle—where the silent majority lives?

Many critics argue it’s time for Disney to “clean house,” return to journalistic basics, and depoliticize its news division. If it doesn’t, the fall of ABC News may not just be a statistical hiccup—it may be a sign of systemic, irreversible decline.

For Bob Iger, who once worked as a weatherman at ABC and rose to helm the House of Mouse, this drop must feel especially personal. But personal or not, the numbers don’t lie. And in today’s media landscape, there’s no hiding from the demo.