CBS News Prepares for Major Changes in Evening Broadcast
The president of CBS News is gearing up for a significant overhaul of the struggling “Evening News” program.
Tom Cibrowski, who previously held a top position at ABC before joining CBS in March, is expected to remove one of the two anchors—John Dickerson or Maurice Dubois—promptly this week.
Additionally, insiders indicate that Cibrowski might be ready to let go of “Evening News” executive producer Guy Campanile.
According to sources, there’s tension because “Guy thinks he knows better than Tom.” It’s been suggested that Campanile could find his way back to “60 Minutes” under the new executive producer Tanya Simon.
Cibrowski appears to be trying to secure his position with a series of bold decisions as CBS moves closer to finalizing its merger with Hollywood Studios Skydance. However, some suggest he might ultimately become a scapegoat for the changes to come.
Previous reports have noted Cibrowski’s alignment with Shawna Thomas, the executive producer of “CBS Mornings,” who has close ties to prominent anchor Gayle King.
CBS News has not commented on these developments.
Last week, Jeff Shell, the new president post-merger, mentioned he was interviewing news executives for Cibrowski’s role. This comes amid speculation that Skydance CEO David Ellison, along with journalist Bari Weiss and former CBS News president David Rhodes, could join the network.
Insiders claim that DuBois seems likelier to secure the sole anchor position, with one former local anchor suggesting that he may be a better fit for the role compared to Dickerson, who is known for his political reporting.
Concerns have been raised regarding a perceived lack of chemistry in the co-host dynamic, particularly when tackling significant stories like the passing of Pope Francis. However, one high-level executive disagreed, indicating that leadership issues are merely a different viewpoint.
One of the critical challenges has been the departure of longtime “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens in April, amid a lawsuit from President Trump related to an interview with Kamala Harris.
Before leaving, Owens had revamped “Evening News” under the direction of Wendy McMahon, the previous CBS News president, and had attempted to push a more “60 Minutes”-style approach, which struggled during the fast-paced early Trump administration.
Despite the changing landscape, Campanile reportedly continues to work on improving the “Evening News” team, though sources say there’s a demand for more straightforward reporting from Cibrowski.
Concerns persist about the show lacking confidence and direction. There seems to be a growing sense that both the team and viewers are aware of the uncertainty.
Sources highlighted a questionable segment on the rising popularity of astrology that aired on a busy news day filled with significant headlines, describing it as emblematic of an arrogant approach. “The only people who think the show is good are guys and senior producers,” remarked a CBS insider.
Moreover, there was some discomfort with the “shaming gift” that Owens and Campanile gave Cibrowski upon their arrival—a book on CBS storytelling, which was criticized for fostering a competitive atmosphere.
Cibrowski’s extensive experience at ABC News, where he worked on programs like “Good Morning America” and “20/20,” is notable.
Within CBS, there’s been internal criticism regarding the dual-anchor setup, described by one former executive as a “two-headed monster.” The revamped approach under McMahon had previously seen “Evening News” ratings fluctuate between 4.5 and 5 million viewers, but since the leadership change in January, numbers have consistently dropped below 4 million.
