When Bari Weiss took over as editor-in-chief of CBS’s news division, she made major changes. One of the biggest changes was to the network’s Evening News. Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson left the program abruptly. CBS Mornings host Tony Dokoupil took over as the sole anchor. However, the ratings haven’t improved like the network expected. Is the new host to blame? Keep reading for the latest on the situation.
CBS Evening News Ratings Tank
Every major network has a news program meant to inform the audience about current events. However, network television is a business. It’s not just about delivering the news. It’s also about attracting a large percentage of the viewing audience. CBS has trailed ABC and NBC in the ratings both in the morning and nightly news programs.
One reason why Tony Dokoupil was promoted was because of his long career with the network and his success on CBS Mornings. The network head honchos hoped that making him the face of the Evening News would lure viewers away from NBC and ABC. Nearly four months into his tenure, that hasn’t happened.
In fact, The Wrap reported that the ratings are down significantly compared to just one year ago. “The show averaged 4.279 million viewers in its first quarter, down 7% from the same period last year, while its 25-54 audience was at 535,000 viewers, down nearly 20%,” the outlet reported.
Is Tony Dokoupil To Blame?
Tony Dokoupil made promises to viewers shortly before taking over CBS Nightly News. He promised more transparency than any other news anchor, including the legendary Walter Cronkite. He vowed to move away from featuring academic opinions, opting instead for the opinions of everyday Americans.
However, his promises haven’t resulted in a ratings increase. In fact, some viewers blame him as the reason why they’ve tuned out of CBS News. Tony Dokoupil did several interviews with controversial figures in the Trump administration, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and the President himself.
Despite his disappointing first quarter on CBS Evening News, the network is standing behind him, at least for now. “Tony Dokoupil is an exceptional talent and experienced journalist who continues to build a program designed to reach audiences wherever they consume the news,” a spokesperson with the network told TheWrap.
During a staff meeting in January, Bari Weiss told the CBS staff that ratings weren’t her first priority. Tony Dokoupil’s job is safe for now. It’s unlikely CBS would fire him so quickly. But if they do, CBS Mornings has yet to replace him after his promotion.
CBS has trailed the other networks in the ratings for a long time. Tell us in the comments why you think that is.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
