Changes at CBS Evening News

CBS News is moving quickly to finalize a deal with Tony Dokoupil to take over as anchor for the CBS Evening News. This comes after reports that Maurice Dubois unexpectedly announced his departure from the network, leaving executives taken aback.

While there’s concern that the negotiations could break down, it’s widely known that Dokoupil is the leading candidate, supported by key figures such as editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Sibrowski.

Negotiations became serious last week when Dubois learned from management that he was not viewed as part of the network’s future. Then, on Thursday, he made unscripted comments, including posting a goodbye message on Instagram.

There’s a bit of a divide among sources regarding whether CBS was aware of Dubois’ decision to announce his resignation via Instagram. Some insiders suggested that he acted without approval, diverging from a plan to synchronize his departure announcement with his successor’s.

As one insider put it, “He has gone rogue,” indicating that Dubois was not in agreement with the company’s strategy.

Dubois’ announcement has seemingly accelerated the timeline for his replacement, which was initially set for the new year. This put CBS in a flurry to renegotiate Dokoupil’s contract with his agency.

Both Dubois and CBS News have chosen not to comment on the situation.

In the next few days, CBS plans to confirm that Dokoupil will be the sole anchor. When asked about Dubois’ replacement, CBS refrained from giving details, instead providing a thank-you message from Sibrowski.

Dubois, who has spent 21 years with the department, revealed his retirement plans on Thursday, stating his last day would be December 18.

He was previously a prominent anchor at New York’s WCBS-TV before joining CBS Evening News alongside John Dickerson last January. Dickerson is also set to depart at the end of the year, further fueling speculation about Dubois’ exit.

The unexpected announcement by Dubois raised eyebrows among CBS insiders and analysts, particularly because the network did not provide information about who would host the nightly newscast moving forward.

Weiss is considering a range of potential candidates for the anchor position, including some high-profile journalists, though budget constraints and existing contracts pose challenges.

As for Dokoupil’s potential new role, it raises questions about who might co-anchor the morning show alongside him. Gayle King’s position has been speculated on due to her substantial salary, and there are suggestions she might be retained if adjustments are made.

“This is a game of chess,” remarked a CBS official, highlighting the complex dynamics at play.