Additional Coverage:
- CBS’ Tony Dokoupil delivered brutal blow as he goes to head to head with David Muir and Tom Llamas (themirror.com)
Tony Dokoupil Trails Behind Rival Anchors in CBS Evening News Ratings
Since stepping into the anchor chair for CBS Evening News nearly four months ago, Tony Dokoupil has been struggling to keep pace with competing evening news hosts like ABC’s David Muir and NBC’s Tom Llamas. According to recent Nielsen ratings, Dokoupil’s viewership numbers are notably lower, raising questions about the program’s direction under new leadership.
Dokoupil, 45, was tapped by Bari Weiss-who assumed the role of CBS News editor-in-chief last October-to helm the network’s flagship evening broadcast. The revamped CBS Evening News debuted with Dokoupil on January 5.
However, Nielsen data for the week of April 6 shows the show averaged 3.81 million viewers in total, with just 477,000 in the key 25-54 demographic. In comparison, Muir’s ABC World News Tonight pulled in 8.42 million viewers overall and 1.07 million in the demo, while Llamas’ NBC Nightly News attracted 6.43 million total viewers and 909,000 in the same age group-placing Dokoupil a distant third.
The ratings decline is also apparent when comparing Dokoupil’s current numbers to those from his first week on the job. Data from The Wrap indicates that during January 5-11, the broadcast averaged 4.17 million viewers-down from 5.4 million during the same week last year. The key demo also fell 23%, from 690,000 to 533,000 viewers in that period.
Industry observers suggest the dip in ratings may be linked to Bari Weiss’s controversial tenure as editor-in-chief. Weiss, 42, came from a background outside traditional TV news, having built her reputation with the so-called “anti-woke” Free Press-a company acquired for $150 million following the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media last August. David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance and son of billionaire Larry Ellison, who is known for his financial support of former President Trump, has overseen this merger.
Since the formation of Paramount Skydance, CBS News has undergone significant shifts, with some critics likening the network’s new direction to that of the conservative Fox News. Behind the scenes, the network has faced turmoil, including buyouts, layoffs, and resignations of longtime staffers-many of whom have openly criticized the changes and expressed dissatisfaction with the evolving newsroom culture.
As CBS Evening News navigates these challenges, it remains to be seen whether Dokoupil and the network can regain ground in the fiercely competitive evening news landscape.