CBS Evening News

[GraphicsMan 345]

1 hour ago, NowBergen said:

 

If I was a major shareholder of WBD, I'd want Paramount Skydance to stay as far away as possible.  Nothing but chaos.  No strategic planning.  No succession planning.  And despite the original intent that Maurice would continue with CBS2, that clearly was never the case, and not an option going forward.  I hope he and John Dickerson have hefty separation agreements.

Could there careers be revived at other networks. They both could go to cable.

[NYNewsCoverage 337]

I was glad his old home of WCBS dedicated some time to this sad news. You could tell how sad Kristine was to break the news. He certainly has the talent, so I'm hopeful that things will work out for him somewhere.

[TVLurker 389]

6 hours ago, NowBergen said:

If I was a major shareholder of WBD, I'd want Paramount Skydance to stay as far away as possible.  Nothing but chaos.  No strategic planning.  No succession planning.  And despite the original intent that Maurice would continue with CBS2, that clearly was never the case, and not an option going forward.  I hope he and John Dickerson have hefty separation agreements.

 

Skydance or not, CBS News has always been poorly managed since the late 80's. It's become more apparent over the years that CBS News is just a revolving door with no stability and that's from me observing the CBS Evening News and what used to be The Early Show.

[MediaZone4K 2661]

On 10/30/2025 at 12:53 PM, MediaZone4K said:

I've been saying from the beginning, Maurice should be skeptical of accepting anything network.  

 

I bring news from the future.

[GodfreyGR 812]

On 12/4/2025 at 11:15 AM, Geoffrey said:

I'm sure this next shuffling of the deck chairs will be the one to stick! Viewers love change!

When do the affiliates start to say something? Every anchor change had tanked viewership even more, and that has got to be affecting the local news on either side of EN. If I were a CBS affiliate where I was also the market leader I would be pissed that this keeps happening.

 

(Yes, there are decent markets where the CBS station is still a market leader)

[GoldenShine_10 263]

1 hour ago, GodfreyGR said:

When do the affiliates start to say something? Every anchor change had tanked viewership even more, and that has got to be affecting the local news on either side of EN. If I were a CBS affiliate where I was also the market leader I would be pissed that this keeps happening.

 

(Yes, there are decent markets where the CBS station is still a market leader)

 

Could that have played a role in the loss of WANF?

[MediaZone4K 2661]

On 12/5/2025 at 2:19 PM, GodfreyGR said:

When do the affiliates start to say something? Every anchor change had tanked viewership even more, and that has got to be affecting the local news on either side of EN. If I were a CBS affiliate where I was also the market leader I would be pissed that this keeps happening.

 

(Yes, there are decent markets where the CBS station is still a market leader)

The CBS Evening News must still be making money because it's amazing that this program has not been canceled yet. The fact that CBS keeps trying in the mornings and evenings suggests they're turning some sort of decent profit ---maybe.

 

Do you have any examples of top markets where CBS leads? I'm genuinely curious?

 

Who now as host? Again, I hope the rumors aren't true about tapping Tony Dokoupil. He'd be the equivalent of Jeff Glor. Young, generically handsome male TV anchor. Capable of the job but not remarkable beyond that. Once could imagine CBS marketing him as a David Muir lite.

On 12/5/2025 at 3:32 PM, GoldenShine_10 said:

 

Could that have played a role in the loss of WANF?

My theory is WANF's break up with CBS was similar to WPLG's break up with ABC. The local affiliate probably got tired of paying for a network affiliation since viewers can bypass the station and go straight to the network's streaming apps for all of the shows they want.

Edited December 7, 2025 by MediaZone4K

[TVLurker 389]

20 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

My theory is WANF's break up with CBS was similar to WPLG's break up with ABC. The local affiliate probably got tired of paying for a network affiliation since viewers can bypass the station and go straight to the network's streaming apps for all of the shows they want.

This.

 

Why would you pay up the nose for content that you could get on Paramount+/Peacock/Disney+ when those networks barely care enough to throw a lifeline to their affiliates.

 

The only network that hasn't seen many defections is NBC. Mainly because NBC not only provides compelling live programming (key word is "live") but has also managed to retain its performance in the age of streaming.

 

This is mainly due to Comcast wisely managing their entertainment assets, even though their roots are in cable, they have shut down several cable networks and have even spun off 99% of its cable networks due to changing logistics.

 

NBC is as lean and efficient as FOX despite them not opening a studio. There is more value of being an NBC affiliate than CBS or ABC at this point.

[atlnewsfan03 93]

On 12/5/2025 at 9:10 PM, MediaZone4K said:

My theory is WANF's break up with CBS was similar to WPLG's break up with ABC. The local affiliate probably got tired of paying for a network affiliation since viewers can bypass the station and go straight to the network's streaming apps for all of the shows they want.

If the 4 major US television networks (ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS) don't make necessary changes to keep their network affiliation model with local stations to remain relevant, we could see more local stations copying the WPLG-10 and WANF-46 approach, and I'd even throw in stations like WHDH-7 and WJXT-4, that were once affiliates of major networks and moved in the direction of being independent stations focused on production of local programming (such as daily newscasts, sports programming, local talk/advertorial shows, charity telethons, etc.), and developing new content creators.

We know that the US is unlikely to see the major networks being like Canada where local affiliates are network owned and operated.  Major downside would be local stations having legacy identities stripped from them (examples could be, MCTYW music leaving WPVI, and 11Alive name leaving WXIA, which viewers of those stations expressed dismay at those stations doing that back 30 years ago, and those stations were forced to reverse course to keep their local viewing audience pleased) for a modern day cookie-cutter identity (example there is how Scripps, Sinclair, Nexstar, Tegna, Gray, and Cox have visually-identical graphics and identical music themes on their stations).

[Reweivvt88 173]

On 12/5/2025 at 9:10 PM, MediaZone4K said:

The CBS Evening News must still be making money because it's amazing that this program has not been canceled yet. The fact that CBS keeps trying in the mornings and evenings suggests they're turning some sort of decent profit ---maybe.

 

Do you have any examples of top markets where CBS leads? I'm genuinely curious?

 

Who now as host? Again, I hope the rumors aren't true about tapping Tony Dokoupil. He'd be the equivalent of Jeff Glor. Young, generically handsome male TV anchor. Capable of the job but not remarkable beyond that. Once could imagine CBS marketing him as a David Muir lite.

 

I think it's more of at least CBS Evening News & "CBS Mornings" bring in some revenue for the money losing news operation. It wouldn't make sense to keep operating CBS News without these programs. Streaming news is not profitable and CBS News is also failing in the streaming news ratings. I do think it's only a matter of time before CBS News is shut down entirely. When you are performing this bad the benefits to running a news operation just are not there. Local stations don't benefit from being part of CBS News. Most CBS O&O stations even the ones in last place would probably get better ratings airing local news in the CBS News time slots. 

 

As bad as Tony Dokoupil is, I bet most at CBS News would probably be relieved if he got the position. Bari Weiss wanted Bret Baier, who spent thanksgiving golfing with Trump. Could you imagine if an anchor of ABC, NBC, or CBS spent their days off golfing with the sitting president? Tony Dokoupil wont improve the ratings at all but at least he's not Lara Logan or Megyn Kelly or Kayleigh Mcenany or whatever far right wacko Bari Weiss has in mind. 

[Geoffrey 958]

I'm not sure Tony is any better than Bret when it comes to his on-air political leanings. Bari is apparently picking him for a reason. I just don't see him moving the needle in the right direction.

[obxwatcher 23]

8 hours ago, Geoffrey said:

I'm not sure Tony is any better than Bret when it comes to his on-air political leanings. Bari is apparently picking him for a reason. I just don't see him moving the needle in the right direction.

Seems like whoever takes the CBS Evening News anchor spot is on a losing mission from day one. How many people had the chair since Katie Couric?

 

Tony takes the anchor spot and then two year later, he’s working the 4am anchor spot on CNN. 
 

Just be happy where you are and know it’s as good as it gets. Tony comes across a good morning person who can mix hard news and fun segments. 

[Georgie56 3661]

It's Tony.

 

 

 

[TVLurker 389]

Of course, CBS is taking a playbook out of ABC and promoting a morning co-host to the evening news platform. Worked for Diane Sawyer, let's hope it works for Tony.

 

And of course Tony would be from NBC News and reporting for MSNBC and been with CBS News since 2016 before becoming morning co-anchor for CBS This Morning now CBS Mornings.

I need time in order to discern Tony. I have never watched him nor researched him but I am aware of the stories.

Edited December 9, 2025 by TVLurker

[obxwatcher 23]

1 hour ago, Georgie56 said:

It's Tony.

 

 

 

At this point, CBS News better not have any expectations that Tony will break the mold and beat Tom and David. I like Tony and his reporting style but the morning shows seem to be more relevant and newsworthy now than 6:30pm.

 

Shepard Smith said it best when FNC canceled the weeknight Fox Report back in 2013. By the time we broadcast our show, you already know the news. 

[MediaZone4K 2661]

So starting this discussion in advance, who will be next next host of Evening News in 2027?

 

Also with Tony and Gayle possiblly leaving, CBS is again sacrificing it's morning show to bump evenings. The three anchors have great chemistry and I'd hate to see them broken up.

[obxwatcher 23]

4 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

So starting this discussion in advance, who will be next next host of Evening News in 2027?

 

Also with Tony and Gayle possiblly leaving, CBS is again sacrificing it's morning show to bump evenings. The three anchors have great chemistry and I'd hate to see them broken up.

Matt Gutman -

 

[MediaZone4K 2661]

2 hours ago, obxwatcher said:

Matt Gutman -

 

Whit Johnson

 

I wonder how much longer Dan Rather would've lasted if CBS decided to forgive the Bush military service controversy... where would the show be today?

[Action Newsroom 1376]

It's confirmed. 

Tony Dokopil is the next anchor.

He will start on January 5.

 

https://deadline.com/2025/12/tony-dokoupil-cbs-evening-news-anchor-1236643230/

[Yayan4155 41]

6 minutes ago, Action Newsroom said:

It's confirmed. 

Tony Dokopil is the next anchor.

He will start on January 5.

 

https://deadline.com/2025/12/tony-dokoupil-cbs-evening-news-anchor-1236643230/

And from this date (but also from December 19 due to DuBois departure and holiday season) it will be reverted into single-anchor format, bringing back the format previously anchored by Norah O'Donnell and its predecessors before Dickerson-DuBois co-hosting.

[GodfreyGR 812]

8 minutes ago, Yayan4155 said:

And from this date (but also from December 19 due to DuBois departure and holiday season) it will be reverted into single-anchor format, bringing back the format previously anchored by Norah O'Donnell and its predecessors before Dickerson-DuBois co-hosting.

I mean, unless Tony wants to develop multiple personalities? Otherwise I think this was implied.

[hfiles 105]

Can we just get out ahead of this one and post this piece of future news for, oh, I don't know... 2027?
 

Quote

A shakeup at CBS Evening News is underway again, as Tony Dokoupil is headed for the exit. Dokoupil has hosted the program for {YEARS} years and joins the parade of former CBS Evening News anchors. His last day will be {DAY}. No word yet on his replacement.

 

[GraphicsMan 345]

I knew Tony would get it. You guys said no.

[JRyan 694]

Given their current roster, Tony is the best man for the job.  If Jeff Glor was still with CBS, I would've said give the job back to him.  Tony is capable and qualified - hopefully CBS actually gives him a chance unlike some of his predecessors.

 

And if CBS is smart enough, they will keep the 1987/2011 theme music.

[alaskanews 159]

Surely this generic white guy will be the ideal configuration of deck chairs on the Titanic!

Edited December 10, 2025 by alaskanews