Rated 'CBS Evening News' is set to make a dangerous pivot following Norah O'Donnell's departure. That the network hopes to bring back viewers.
O'Donnell, who led “Evening News,” which lagged in the ratings race with competitors at ABC and NBC, signed off for the final time on Thursday. It started in the summer of 2019.
John Dickerson and Maurice Dubois are scheduled to replace her as co-anchors, with the first broadcast scheduled for Monday.
O'Donnell will continue to submit long-form stories for “60 Minutes” and “CBS Sunday Morning.”
In July, O'Donnell announced that she would vacate her role as anchor and managing editor after the 2024 presidential election to focus on an expanded role at the network amid sagging audiences.
The decision was made months ago before parent Paramount Global laid off about 2,000 staff as part of a move to cut $500 million from its budget ahead of its merger with SkyDance Media.
O'Donnell's demotion was preceded by a significant pay cut, as his salary was cut by more than half, from $8 million a year to just $3.8 million.
“Evening News” averaged 4.6 million viewers in the most recent quarter, trailing “ABC World News Tonight” and “NBC Nightly News” with fewer than 670,000 in the key 25-54 demographic. .
Dickerson and Dubois, who are based in New York, will co-anchor a revamped version of “Evening News.” According to parent company Paramount Global. O'Donnell was broadcasting nightly from Washington, DC.
Under the new model, the Evening News features a rotating team of correspondents, each specializing in a major subject area such as politics, international affairs, technology and investigative journalism.
Instead of relying on a single anchor delivering the news from behind a desk, the program will incorporate a strong emphasis on live reporting, on-the-ground analysis and expert commentary.
Margaret Brennan, host of the Sunday political talk show “Face the Nation,” will lead reporting from Washington, D.C., and Ronnie Quinn, DuBois' colleague at New York's WCBS-TV, has been named chief weathercaster. Ta.
This shift aligns with broader industry trends as viewers seek more detailed, visually immersive reporting rather than traditional studio-based broadcasts.
The transition also coincides with a broader restructuring of CBS's news operations and reflects the company's shift to a more digital-centric approach.
The network has already invested in enhanced graphics, virtual sets, and new interactive storytelling tools to create a more immersive viewing experience.
CBS will also lean heavily into global correspondents, providing on-location reporting and adding a layer of immediacy and credibility to its broadcasts.
“The strength of CBS News has always been in our ensemble of journalists both in front of and behind the camera. With John, Maurice, Margaret and Ronnie on the evening news, our goal is to bring the best in their field each night. Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Stations, said in a press release.
