Ratings for CBS Evening News have dropped below 4 million viewers for the first time since Tony Dokoupil assumed the anchor role following Bari Weiss’s overhaul of the program.
Rough Launch in January
The revamped nightly news show encountered challenges from the start in January. Dokoupil faced technical glitches during his first regular broadcast while transitioning between segments. One network staffer described his debut, which featured social media clips of him asking strangers at a train station to pronounce his last name, as “embarrassing.”
Initial Ratings and Subsequent Decline
The program’s first week under Dokoupil averaged 4.17 million total viewers and 533,000 in the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen data. This marked a 23 percent decline in total viewership compared to the same period in 2025. CBS News highlighted a 4 percent increase over the season average since September.
However, viewership slipped further last week to 3.83 million total viewers and 468,000 among adults 25-54, per Nielsen figures.
Competitor Performance
Dokoupil’s ratings trail far behind rivals. ABC World News Tonight with David Muir drew nearly 8.48 million viewers last week, while NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas attracted 6.51 million, Nielsen data shows.
Background on Network Changes
The network replaced co-anchors Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson after their show lost audience and frequently fell below 4 million viewers on weeknights. Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, became CBS News editor-in-chief last October and spearheaded several changes, including Dokoupil’s appointment.
One network staffer characterized the revamped CBS Evening News as “state TV.” President Donald Trump remarked to Dokoupil on the program that he “wouldn’t have a job right now” if Kamala Harris had won the 2024 election.
Weiss also faced criticism for delaying a 60 Minutes segment on Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, noted for harsh conditions. The piece aired nearly a month later.
Political Reactions
In response to the latest ratings drop, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) posted on X: “If people want conservative slant, they can watch Fox or Newsmax. People don’t want broadcast news to slant one way or the other. They just want news.”
