CBS Evening News Plummets to Worst Ratings of the Century
According to early Nielsen data obtained by the Daily Mail, CBS Evening News is heading towards its lowest-rated first quarter of the 21st century. The once-esteemed broadcast is now attracting a mere 4.3 million viewers per night, representing a 7 percent decline from the previous year. This alarming downturn follows a period of instability, including a dual-anchor experiment that reportedly drove away over 1.2 million viewers.
Leadership Changes and Viewer Exodus
New Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss has appointed former CBS Mornings host Tony Dokoupil, 54, to anchor the Evening News, with his tenure beginning in early January coinciding with the start of these dismal ratings. Two seasoned television news executives described the statistics as startling, given the network's existing decline. The show has also suffered an 18 percent drop in the crucial 25-54 demographic, which is highly prized by advertisers.
One executive lamented, "It is so sad to see CBS become the laughingstock of the industry." Another added, "Obviously, it's a disaster. The audience is responding to the bad decisions that have been made. And that's why they're tuning out." The preliminary ratings cover January, February, and most of March, painting a grim picture for the network's flagship evening program.
Bari Weiss's Controversial Stewardship
The ratings coincide with the so-far unsuccessful tenure of CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, a 41-year-old center-right legacy media critic who is roughly six months into her role. Weiss, a former New York Times writer with no prior experience heading a major newsroom, has faced criticism for a series of moves viewed as missteps within the industry.
Her leadership of CBS Mornings has also been problematic, according to the new ratings. Without Dokoupil, the show has declined 13 percent from the same quarter last year to 1.8 million viewers. The 25-54 audience situation is even more dire, plummeting 28 percent year-over-year to just 268,000 viewers.
Competitive Landscape and Industry Backlash
For context, both ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's Today average around 3 million total viewers, with minimal separation between them, and both have posted year-over-year gains. In contrast, Gayle King's CBS Mornings remains a distant third, with viewership moving in the opposite direction.
The primetime scenario mirrors this decline, with Dokoupil losing viewers year-over-year while competitors like ABC's David Muir and NBC Nightly News' Tom Llamas attract larger audiences. Muir, for instance, commands 8.7 million total viewers and 1.1 million in the 25-54 demographic, solidifying his dominant first-place position.
Executives attribute Dokoupil's struggles to failed leadership. One source starkly commented, "CBS has now become a NASCAR event with people just watching to see the cars crash - Bari Weiss has effectively removed all value from the once-enviable brand." Another noted, "Given CBS Sports is seeing record highs – there’s no question the ratings problem at CBS is entirely Bari’s making."
The ratings have placed Weiss under further scrutiny, intensifying concerns about her ability to steer the network. The Daily Mail has approached CBS News for comment, but no response has been reported at this time.
