CBS Evening News Ratings Show Big Swing Since Norah O’Donnell Exit
CBS Evening News continues to face challenges following Norah O’Donnell‘s departure earlier this year, with ratings down compared to the same period last year.
As reported by AdWeek, citing Nielsen live-plus-same-day data ratings for the week of June 16, CBS Evening News, hosted by John Dickerson and Maurice Dubois, had 3.981 million total viewers and 526,000 viewers in the Adults 25-54 demo. This was not only down -4% in total viewers and demo to the week prior but also down -8% in total viewers and -15% in demo year-over-year.
O’Donnell, who hosted the show between 2019 and 2025, anchored her final episode on January 23. Dickerson and Dubois then took over a new-look version of the program, which adopted a more 60 Minutes-style magazine format. Rather than rattling through the headlines, the new version of Evening News provides longer segments on specific topics.
The new Evening News format came from CBS News CEO and president Wendy McMahon. The changes came after O’Donnell’s show trailed in third place to NBC and ABC for the past five years.
In comparison, NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas attracted 5.678 million total viewers and 820,000 in the key demo for the week of June 16. This was flat in total viewers compared to the previous week but down -3% in the demo. However, while the program was down -1% in total viewers compared to last year, it was up +11% in the demo.
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir was the only newscast to post gains in both total viewers and demo. However, it should be noted ABC News’ weekly average was only based on Tuesday (June 17) and Wednesday (June 18). Monday (June 16) and Friday’s (June 20) broadcasts were retitled to WNT-ABC due to the NBA finals, and Thursday’s (June 19) broadcast was classed as a special for the Juneteenth holiday.
According to Nielsen, ABC World News Tonight averaged 7.448 million total viewers and 1.038 million viewers in the demo for the week of June 16. This was up +3% in total viewers and +4% in the demo compared to the week prior. In comparison to the same period in 2024, the show was up +4% in total viewers and +9% in the demo.
Conversation138 Comments
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I miss Nora. David Muir covers more info. but he's too grim. Lester Holt was even a bit scary. I felt John Dickerson was the best choice and Maurice DuBois is also nice but I don't think they need both. The interplay between them wastes time that could be used for more story depth. However it's still my first choice of the three stations.
55 16
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Dickerson is the best and his journal segment on “Plus” harkens back to Eric Severeid segments of years ago!
21 4
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If you remember Severide you are definitely out of the demo!
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do you think any of the younger groups watch any of these evening news programs?
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The ratings demo says “yes”.
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I miss Nora the way I miss a robot or a Stepford wife.
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Sadly all the news is grim today
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I couldn't stand Nora. Was glad to see her go. I like john Dickerson. I liked him on cbs mornings also. John is better than Maurice. If I had to choose.
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Love rob Marciano doing the weather as well.
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DuBois is obvious DEI
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I love Dubois and Dickerson. I always watch.
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I do too. I don't miss Norah and her shameless virtue signaling at all.
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Me too. This is my go to evening news. Love it!
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I stopped watching network news about 6 years ago. All I was getting was leftist talking points. I get my news now from a variety of sources which give it to me from across the political spectrum.
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Agreed!!
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That's a load of horse crap. Because I can tell the difference between someone reporting facts and opinions. Network news is the only news that can be trusted.
They show you the news visually, they show you what people say. They're not making anything up. The only reason why anyone would not like it is if they don't like the actual truth.
The people on the right wouldn't like it because currently they're more the idiots of the country. Some day the people on the left will act more idiotic.
It always goes back and forth over time between the 2 extreme sided. Thank God most of us like me are still in the middle. Once that changes it's all over for all of us.
PS just stumbled on this blog and won't ever see it again once I click out of it. So I won't see any responses.
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I personally do not like a two member team for the national news I think one anchor is sufficient and if you are going to have two, one should be male and one female. CBS really screwed themselves when they removed Jeff Glor as the Anchorman several years ago and replaced him with Norah O'Donnell that's when their troubles began. Their numbers will not improve over time. Bring Jeff back.
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I'll go one better, bring back Scott Pelley!
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Even better, bring back Katie Couric!!
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I watched CBS Evening news for decades beginning with Walter Cronkite. I watched the new version of the News twice and had to try ABC. David Muir is almost as good as Nora was. I really miss her and will stay with her ABC.
The two CBS anchors finish each other’s responses which is so irritating.
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They lost me I switched to David Muir. Won't be back until they change
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I love the format! The weather staging is amazing. I like the CBS evening news. It feels professional.
41 16
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The weather is a gimmick like the rest which is why I no longer watch. And I used to work in the industry.
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I totally agree Leslie... all of that!!
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They did awesome with the rob Marciano hire from abc. I don't see why they fired him. I quit watching abc because of just that very thing .
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I love the new format and the new anchors! If those lower numbers are accurate I recommend giving it time and advertise it. Much more enjoyable and informative.
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No.
boring.
They do not have any personality.
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I love the new format. Did not like Nora O'Donnell at all. Maurice and John are a good paring and I've enjoyed watching both of them in their previous positions. I say give it time and increase marketing of this very entertaining format.
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Did anyone else notice that it took two men to replace one woman, and the ratings are still down? I miss Norah, but I still prefer CBS News over the other networks.
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Sexist?
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I still prefer CBS news as well even though I was not a Nora O'Donnell fan. I really enjoy this new format and I also like Maurice and John at the helm.
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I would rather watch the two men better. I quit watching meet the press because of Kristen welker.
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David Muir is probably not going anywhere right now, that's for sure!
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David Muir and his awkward pose while teasing the news is the worst anchor there is. His bias is so thick you can't trust what he reports.
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I hope they keep falling. You can’t trust them. We don’t get real news. We get democrat talking points.
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Nonsense.
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The truth is that , democrats stuff
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Yeah, Fox is real news. 🤮
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Amen!
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I love Dubois and Dickerson and the new format great. Give it time.
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Agreed. But don’t base it on summer ratings; wait till the fall when kids are back in school and when it starts getting dark out earlier.
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I change the channel. All they try to do is bash the Trump Administration each night.
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CBS is so far left that use can barely extract anything like news from their rhetoric.
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all the main stream media is failing...due to their bias, TDS and flat out lies.
the American people are for the most part not stupid, and are tired of the propagnada
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All these commentators who want the news “without spin and opinion” just want the news with their spin and opinion.
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No. Just the facts, please!
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Who really watches this fluff? It's not news, it the arm of the left wing. I stop watching eight year's ago.
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There nothing but junk. Don't waste my time watching them. They couldn't even notice that Biden was incompetent four years ago.
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Cbs just bad no matter who is evening anchor. Nora was horrible!
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Hmmm. Most would assume poor ratings are due to the non stop skewering of reality to push the DemTerrorist's anti American rhetoric and propaganda...
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CBS is too liberal biased so news is not helpful. The worse is Mag Brennan who is rude & all anti-Trump
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Agreed!
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They aren’t just too Liberal, they are anti American!
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I watch NO main stream MSM lying leftist media news! 99.9% BS ………………lies, bunk and ANTI AMERICAN 🫵🏽
8 4
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I don't like the magazine format...just give the news without all the spin and opinions. I like Lonnie Quinn, he has great energy, and of course Maurice, from watching both of them on my local CBS NY news for years. Maurice doesn't seem overly afflicted with DTS, like John Dickerson, who is annoying as hell, as well as Margaret Brennan. She was almost seething on air when Trump won last November.
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I so agree!
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I meant Norah but I typed wrong name! 🤣
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(Just FYI, you can always edit a post if you find you made an error or typo. Just click on the three buttons to the far right of your post and choose Edit.)
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I don't respect John Dickerson. He lost all credibility when he started crying on Cobert about Trump winning the election. With his voice breaking, he said, "What will I tell my boys?" Be a journalist! Good grief!
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Of the big 3, I like NBC the best now
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Too much fluff not enough hard news which is why we watch.
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I am not a fan of 2 men. I feel CBS took a step back in time with that move. Neither are soft around the edges. At the very least, have a man n woman.
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Impossible to do, since they cannot define a woman.
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I think the duo suck I don’t like either one of them
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It took two men to replace one woman.
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I miss Nora O'Donnell. The new foremat doesn't work for me
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Dickerson looks so uncomfortable with his squirming and moving his head all over the place while Maurice looks calm cool and professional. Miss Norah a lot.
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Some time ago, they tried the two-anchor approach when they brought in Connie Chung to co-anchor with Dan Rather. How did that work out?
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I'm not surprised. I don't like the new format at all and I was a loyal watcher before. I think it's awkward having these guys practically finishing each other's sentences. Nothing against the anchors though.
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It's liberal media and the country is done with the negativity 🙄
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David Muir is too robotic, I stay an away from ABC NEWS. I like CBS as a network for a lot of reasons and Nora was perfect, but what drove me away to watching NBC NEWS instead was CBS News’ format: 15 minutes news straight and the rest of the time was 13 1/2 minutes of commercials and 90 seconds of highlights. For that reason I preferred NBC News (no cheating) news format with Lester Holt. I’ve tried watching CBS News new set, it hasn’t grown on me yet. The two co-anchors format lack a je ne sais quoi, perhaps it’s chemistry or maybe it’s my brain that’s slow at processing it. Eventually CBS will need to go with just one anchor. While John Dickerson would be perfect for 60 Minutes, his timber and demeanor, however, don’t jell well with the evening news.
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They all suck
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I like it , so sick of the 3 minute intro the other world newscasts use !
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Always watched Norah even recorded if we weren’t home! Never wanted to miss her!! Now its so boring and same old crap and biased!! We’ve changed to David Muir and not really happy with him… he’s so dry and monotone but at least better than Norahs so called replacements!! YOU CAN NOT REPLACE NORAH!! Bring her back and the viewers will return!!!!!!
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I will never understand why they replaced him, ratings were up and climbing and he was the only one who was tough on the administration in power. He did hard news!
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CBS, as well as the rest of the left leaning stations would benefit from reporting some centrist news occasionally. Hell, maybe just some news and not commentary would attract an audience. Fox News has been number one almost since inception. They do have some liberal people on there and I think that occasionally they do fair and balanced work CBS ABC NBC are all products of the AP.
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Nora is why I quit watching cbs
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It’s CBS what do expect, the read scripts provided to them from the party of evil voted against.
There are no journalists at CBS only script readers!
You have to look at multiple news sources to fine the truth!
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It doesn’t matter what moron they put in the chair, we no longer trust or watch the lame stream media.
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I miss Nora greatly. Really, it takes 2 men to replace 1 woman?
Bring her back. Maurice and John are just not doing it for me. Have gone to NBC.
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We do not need two men to give the news. Nora was excellent and very professional. Now watching ABC.
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It's like watching Bert & Ernie report the nightly news. Give up on DEI and just find someone who can REPORT the news.
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I love John and Maurice so much more in depth and they have a great on screen presence.its calming even when they are reporting awful news thank you John and maurice.
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I watched Nora every night……she did a great job…….when she left i went to ABC……CBS is now a clown show…..
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I don't watch now that Nora is gone.
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I love CBS evening news!!! I converted from NBC and ABC. CBS is soooo much better, they spend time on stories. They don't try and raise your blood pressure with endless teasers. The new format is great!!!
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I think Jarrica Duncan should have gotten the job. CBS blew it big time!!
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CBS always blows it. Look at Blue Bloods!
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I was not aware that CBS was still broadcasting or in business.
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They could put re runs of Andy Griffith in that time slot and have more people watching.
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I think these men are doing a good job but I also like Laura
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Agreed, I think the two co-anchors do a good job.
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I hate the new format since Nora O. left. She was the best. The two guys just don't cut it. We still watch, but we sure miss Nora and they are soooo boring. Now we are hearing Tony D. is coming on. Jeez! Jerika D. is also awesome. Why cant she stay on? Sound like males is what CBS wants even though they are not as good. Boo.
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How about just report the news without giving a opinion.
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They all run the same news to commercials? Holt’s delivery and Dickerson are both very similar and Dickerson is already on 60 Minutes!
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What news are you watching? Your biases is showing!
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Jeff Glor deserved better and now he’s no longer at CBS News
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This comment is why we are so divided as a nation because someone thinks the truth and straight news reports are “leftist”! These types of comments are people looking for their opinions and beliefs to be reported over the truth! You want biased media, right wing talking points and propaganda.
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I can’t tolerate Dickerson’s voice. It is like fingernails on a chalkboard! Are those two the best you could come up with to replace Norah O’Donnell?
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Bring back Norah. We are sick of men in suits giving us grim news No thnx t.please bring back her wonderful no biased approach.
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Once the news anchors decided to add their personal opinions to the "news", I stopped watching. If you want to add your two-cents to a broad cast, do not call it news.
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Miss Nora’s strange eyes 😳
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Keep Dickerson!
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My husband and I really liked Nora O'Donnell. We are so devastated by not being able to see her on the evening news. She was always professional yet empathetic when needed. I like both anchors now but neither for the news, especially not as they appear together! I really like David Muir but he 5alks to fast for us 80 year olds! We have now switched to NBC. Sorry!
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I think you need Jericka Duncan. Dickerson and DuBois derm like puppets.
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Pay Norma more and bring her back! That was a wrong choice. I do like the two guys but they dont have the energy to keep the interest. Miss Nora and usually can't watch usually dont any more. They are too dry.
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I record and watch all 3.
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CBS would eat there own
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Watching her wad Watching paint dry.
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I find it interesting that they needed two men to do the job of one woman, and they don't even do it well. It comes across more like a talk or morning show. We watch it for the news not conversation. We no longer watch as often as we used to
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Fox News blew them all out of the water, fake news loses again, MAGA20025TRUMP!
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We love the new CBS format as someone else mentioned “calming” first class
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I use to watch Nora on CBS and liked her. I tried the new guys/format for about a week and left. Didn’t feel right, too much political bias. Give us more/better stories that don’t involve politics. Just tired of all the drama. I’ve moved on
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I don’t miss Nora O’Biden
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I think the new format is great and have great respect for John Dickerson and Maurice Dubois. They dive a bit deeper into stories and ask good questions of other reporters.
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“TV Insider” needs an editor. “Down -4%” actually means it’s up four percent.
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After Nora left it has not been the same. Where did she go? 60 Minutes? The news with the 2 male anchors is now boring! Probably many feel the same as I do? I like David Muir better and quicker format.
Lately, the news is getting boring and some things are not even reported. Like you get real news elsewhere instead of mainstream media and so left leaning and against Trump and not unbiased as true journalism should be just to report it.
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I always watched Norah. She is terrific. Now I watch ABC.
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NBC. IS NOW BETTER. I think that ABS just skims the News. Doesn’t get into anything!
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I miss Nora but I do like the new setup. I will continue to watch ❤️
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They should have introduced this new format but left Norah in the mix.
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Best wishes to the both of you Maurice and Dick great team
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I think the CBS Evening News sucks now. Very boring. Norah gave it a different kind of energy or something, that these guys just don't have and neither does the new platform.
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Someone needs to pull Anderson Cooper over to their network if they want to compete with Muir.
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At one time I liked CBS above all other news networks, but have lot much trust in them w their anti-Trump way of telling the news.
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Where was Fox in this polling? The only news broadcast to report the truth.
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The newscasts from the stated three networks should all be considered moot. An identical statement can be made for PBS/NPR. They have a political bias and only give marginally helpful and useful information on other subjects. Further, they do not give any significant follow up on important topics that are of national interest. They accentuate the negative events/stories and only "at the end" of the broadcast give a very brief positive event for our USA. The latter are indeed infrequent. If you miss the "newscast" from any or all of the sources, you are using your time wisely! And now, a question for consideration, do any or all of these sources and networks receive taxpayer monies? The answer is obvious!
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The CBS news staff do not know how to remain unbiased in their news reporting, especially when it comes to political candidates.
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Prefer National New, I am tired of all the lefties and Democrat twisting the news to fit their narratives which is causing more tax waste for all the American tax payer, where the Police and National Guard had to be used to protect businesses and innocent civilians. The Police and National Guards need to do their jobs doing other duties to protect the citizens instead of controlling idiotic protesters who act like kids. You want to protest, act like an adult who cares about America. This is America, if you care about other country, maybe you should move to that country.
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Two dudes just feels a little gay to me.
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I've always liked CBS but with Norah gone i think the real news is dumbed down so as to not be political or to offend our crooked president. I am going to start watching NBC, ABC, or CNN.
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I miss Nora. I was nice to see a strong woman on the nightly news. I’m not a fan of the new format.
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I used to watch, only for Norah!! Now I watch Sinclair National Desk with DeeDee Gatton.
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They love their other types. Forget the normal people! Can’t watch the Price is Right any longer or Lets Make A Deal, and now they have destroyed the Best Evening News EVER!!!
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Yup, we didn’t call it watching the news. We called it watching Norah. We both miss her!
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I don’t miss Nora O’Donnell at all, and I really like the two new anchors. So much more professional and likable.
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This is a DEI move and it is very disappointing. Get ready to lose millions of viewers.
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CBS stands for. C bull shit.
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