The ratings-challenged “CBS Evening News” is set to make a risky pivot following the departure of Norah O’Donnell — scrapping the traditional, anchor-driven format in favor of multi-anchor ensemble that will have the feel of a local news broadcast that the network hopes will bring back viewers.
O’Donnell, who helmed “Evening News” as it lagged behind in the ratings race against competitors at ABC and NBC, signed off for the last time on Thursday — ending her stint as anchor and managing editor of the Tiffany Network’s national nightly news program that began in the summer of 2019.
John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, who are up against are set to succeed her as co-anchors, with their first broadcast scheduled for Monday.
O’Donnell will continue to file long-form stories for “60 Minutes” and “CBS Sunday Morning.”
In July, O’Donnell announced that she would vacate her role as anchor and managing editor after the 2024 presidential election to focus on an expanded role at the network amid sagging viewership.
The decision came months before parent Paramount Global laid off some 2,000 staffers as part of a move to cut $500 million from the budget ahead of its merger with Skydance Media.
O’Donnell’s demotion was preceded by a significant cut in pay as her salary was reduced by more than half — from $8 million annually to just $3.8 million, The Post reported in 2022.
The “Evening News” averaged just 4.6 million total viewers in the most recent quarter and less than 670,000 in the key 25- to 54-year-old demographic — trailing “ABC World News Tonight” and “NBC Nightly News.”
Dickerson and DuBois, who will be based in New York, will co-anchor a revamped version of “Evening News,” according to parent company Paramount Global. O’Donnell had been broadcasting nightly from Washington, DC.
Under the new model, “Evening News” will feature a rotating team of correspondents, each specializing in key subject areas such as politics, international affairs, technology and investigative journalism.
Instead of relying on a single anchor delivering the news from behind a desk, the program will now incorporate live reports, on-the-ground analysis and a stronger emphasis on expert commentary.
Margaret Brennan, moderator of the Sunday political talk show “Face the Nation,” will lead coverage from Washington, DC, while Lonnie Quinn, a colleague of DuBois at WCBS-TV in New York, has been named chief weathercaster.
This shift aligns with broader industry trends where viewers seek more in-depth, visually immersive reporting rather than conventional studio-based broadcasts.
The transition also coincides with a broader restructuring of CBS’s news operations, reflecting the company’s shift toward a more digital-centric approach.
The network has already invested in enhanced graphics, virtual sets and new interactive storytelling tools to create a more immersive viewing experience.
CBS will also lean heavily on its global correspondents to provide on-location reporting, adding a layer of immediacy and authenticity to the broadcast.
“The strength of CBS News has always been in its ensemble of journalists, both in front of and behind the camera, and our goal with John, Maurice, Margaret and Lonnie at the Evening News is to elevate the best in their fields every night for our viewers,” Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Stations, said in a press release.
