CBS News Picks Tony Dokoupil as New Anchor for Evening News
UPDATE: CBS News has just confirmed that Tony Dokoupil, co-host of CBS Mornings, will take over as anchor of CBS Evening News starting in the new year. This major transition is expected to be officially announced as early as Tuesday.
Dokoupil, 44, is set to leave his role alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson, marking a significant shift in the network’s evening programming. This change follows the recent announcement from Maurice DuBois, co-anchor of the evening news, revealing that his last day will be December 18, 2023.
The news comes amid a backdrop of upheaval within CBS, as the network seeks to revamp its evening news format. Insiders suggest that significant changes to CBS Mornings could also be on the horizon, potentially affecting the roles of King and Burleson.
Officials at CBS are eager to move forward with these changes, as the evening news program has struggled with viewer retention, losing approximately 1 million viewers under the leadership of DuBois and John Dickerson, who is also expected to exit by December 19.
Dokoupil’s rise through the ranks since joining CBS News in 2016 has been notable; he became a co-anchor on the morning show in 2018. His tenure has not been without controversy, particularly following a heated interview in October 2024 with author Ta-Nehisi Coates. This interview drew criticism from CBS leadership, highlighting ongoing tensions within the network regarding editorial standards.
The appointment of Dokoupil has been viewed positively by new CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who has also considered other candidates for the role. However, sources indicate that Dokoupil has emerged as the front-runner.
As CBS News prepares for this transition, it is expected to utilize fill-in anchors until Dokoupil officially takes the chair. The network is under pressure to restore its ratings and credibility, particularly after a tumultuous year filled with leadership changes and programming shifts.
What happens next? CBS is poised for a crucial period of transformation as it navigates these leadership changes and aims to strengthen its competitive position in the evening news landscape. Viewers will be watching closely as the network implements its strategy in the weeks ahead.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
