Changes at CBS Evening News
CBS News is preparing to bring some freshness to its evening news program, which has been facing challenges. A new anchor will take the reins as the year turns. On Wednesday, it was announced that Tony Dokoupil, currently co-hosting “CBS Morning,” will start as the anchor for “CBS Evening News” on January 5.
CBS News Editor-in-Chief, Bari Weiss, expressed confidence in Dokoupil’s ability to regain public trust in the media. She highlighted his commitment to traditional journalism values—like digging deep, following the truth, and holding those in power accountable. In her words, Americans seeking fairness will see this approach reflected every night.
Tom Cybrowski, the president of CBS News, praised Dokoupil as the ideal evening news anchor, describing him as honest, compassionate, and fearless. He noted Dokoupil’s ability to connect with everyone he speaks to, whether it’s a world leader or a family dealing with tough news.
Tracking the Anchor Changes
This marks Dokoupil’s elevation to the fourth anchor position at CBS Evening News since 2019, and notably the seventh since the departure of Dan Rather in 2005. Interestingly, no anchor has stayed longer than six years. During this time, anchors like Katie Couric, Scott Pelley, and Norah O’Donnell all experienced significant drops in viewership within the sought-after 25 to 54 age demographic.
Some figures are striking, especially Couric’s, who saw a nearly 30% drop in total viewers and around 35% in her target demographic from 2006 to 2011. O’Donnell’s departure last January also hit the program hard, as she was replaced by John Dickerson and Maurice Dubois, who brought in around 500,000 viewers over the last year, a 24% share in the coveted demographic.
The Competitive Landscape
In fact, as of 2025, “World News Tonight” attracted an impressive 7.7 million viewers on average, followed by “NBC Nightly News” with 6.2 million. CBS, on the other hand, managed only about 4 million viewers, which is just 22% of the combined audience of the three programs.
Looking Ahead
Much is riding on Dokoupil and Weiss, the new CBS leader, as they aim to revitalize this struggling program. Although Weiss was not previously involved in television, she was chosen by Paramount’s new owner, David Ellison, to spearhead meaningful changes. It’s rumored that Dokoupil wasn’t initially her first choice for anchor, yet his selection now represents her most significant decision since taking over.
In a landscape marked by fierce competition and evolving viewer preferences, CBS News is at a crossroads, hoping that Dokoupil can help turn the tide.
CBS News has yet to provide a response to inquiries regarding these developments.
