Harry Reasoner and Howard K. Smith co-anchored the ABC Evening News from December 1970. In 1975, Reasoner assumed sole anchor responsibilities until his pairing with Barbara Walters, the first female network anchor, in 1976. Ratings for the nightly news broadcast declined shortly thereafter.
On July 10, 1978, ABC launched World News Tonight with a trio of anchors. From Washington D.C., Frank Reynolds assumed primary anchor responsiblities while Peter Jennings (from London) and Max Robinson (from Chicago) - the first African American network news anchor - provided secondary duties.
Since 1983, the program has been anchored by Peter Jennings. It has maintained high viewership levels, either equalling or surpassing its rivals, NBC Nightly News, and the CBS Evening News.