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Ratings Rumble: Is Tony Doukoupil’s “Evening News” Future Fading?
New York, NY – It seems the “CBS Evening News” desk might be a bit chillier than usual for anchor Tony Doukoupil, as recent viewership numbers suggest a significant dip, particularly within a key demographic. This slide could signal rough waters ahead for the program’s future.
Doukoupil, who took the helm of the “CBS Evening News” in January after co-hosting “CBS Mornings,” has faced his share of scrutiny lately, including a controversial remark about former President Trump. Now, it appears his program is experiencing a more tangible challenge: a shrinking audience.
Last week, the “CBS Evening News” saw a 9% drop in total viewers compared to the week prior, translating to just over 4 million viewers overall. Even more concerning is the slump in the highly coveted 25-54 age demographic, which garnered a mere 458,000 viewers – a staggering 28% decrease year over year.
“The total audience is aging, and the demo erosion is what keeps executives up at night,” a TV news insider reportedly told Hollywood Insider Rob Shuter, as per Radar Online. “You can’t build a future on shrinking younger numbers.”
Some speculate that the recent shake-up at CBS, specifically the appointment of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News, might be contributing to the viewership woes. The Mirror US reports that Weiss’s editorial decisions have drawn considerable criticism, with many viewing her as a Trump sympathizer.
One particularly controversial move involved Weiss’s alleged directive to pull a “60 Minutes” segment investigating conditions in El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison, where many immigrants deported by the Trump administration have been sent. While the segment eventually aired weeks later with minimal changes, the initial delay raised eyebrows.
An industry source offered a blunt assessment to Radar Online regarding Doukoupil’s declining numbers: “It’s hard to come from a place of authority when everyone, including you, knows you are just ‘Bari’s b—h.'” The source added, “Curious to see how much longer the Ellisons will tolerate this utter defenestration of CBS News before they step in.”
Doukoupil’s tenure didn’t start without a hitch either. His inaugural broadcast on January 5th saw him stumble through a segment transition, initially discussing the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro before becoming visibly disoriented about what was next on the agenda.
“To other news, as you just heard from Jill…to other news now, to Gov. Walz,” Doukoupil stated, intending to cover the Minnesota governor’s decision not to seek re-election. However, an image of Arizona Senator Mark Kelly appeared on screen, prompting a quick correction: “No, we’re gonna do Mark Kelly,” he announced, shifting to Kelly’s recent censure by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
After a few awkward seconds, the Kelly segment finally began, with Doukoupil candidly remarking, “First day, big problems here.”
With declining numbers and whispers of internal strife, the coming weeks will be crucial for Tony Doukoupil and the “CBS Evening News.”