CBS Reportedly Scrambling to Sign Tony Dokoupil as ‘Evening News’ Anchor Following Maurice DuBois Exit
What To Know
- CBS News is apparently urgently negotiating to sign Tony Dokoupil as the new CBS Evening News anchor following Maurice DuBois’ announcement of his departure on December 18.
- The exits of DuBois and co-anchor John Dickerson come amid major leadership changes at CBS News after the Paramount-Skydance merger.
- While Dokoupil is considered a frontrunner, CBS News has also reached out to prominent anchors from other networks, and no official replacement has been confirmed yet.
CBS News was reported to be in panic mode on Thursday (December 4) following Maurice DuBois’ public announcement that he will be leaving CBS Evening News on December 18.
According to the New York Post, CBS News bosses “scrambled” to sign CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil to a new contract that would see him take over as host of the network’s flagship evening broadcast. This came after it was claimed DuBois went “rogue” earlier in the day by announcing his departure on Instagram.
CBS President Tom Cibrowski has since denied those reports, telling the Post he had “worked directly with Maurice for 2 weeks, who is a complete professional, on announcing his departure.”
In his exit post, DuBois wrote, “It has been the Honor of a Lifetime. 21 years altogether, including my time at WCBS-TV in New York City. What a privilege! To be welcomed into your homes night after night, delivering the news / meeting extraordinary people and telling their stories. I’ll leave filled with gratitude, cherished relationships and amazing memories.”
DuBois became co-anchor of CBS Evening News alongside John Dickerson in January 2025, replacing Norah O’Donnell. Dickerson announced his decision to leave the show back in October, confirming his final broadcast will be in December.
The exits of DuBois and Dickerson come amid significant changes at CBS News following Paramount’s (the network’s parent company) merger with Skydance earlier this year. Since then, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison hired The Free Press co-founder Bari Weiss as CBS News’ new editor-in-chief.
As previously reported, Weiss has been “quietly canvassing” for a fresh face to helm CBS Evening News, with Dokoupil being a frontrunner. However, Weiss was also said to be looking outside the company, sending feelers to Fox News’ Bret Baier, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, and ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman to jump networks.
Per the Post, DuBois’ announcement “sped up the timeline” to secure a replacement anchor for CBS Evening News. The outlet claims the network spent Thursday renegotiating Dokoupil’s contract with his agent, UTA’s Jay Sures.
CBS News has yet to confirm a new host for CBS Evening News.
CBS Evening News, Weeknights, 6:30 E.T., CBS
Conversation11 Comments
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D
I would like to see a female anchor again! Jericka Duncan who is the weekend anchor and we sometimes substitute for the weekly anchors would be an excellent choice!
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J
Tony would be a good choice. I also like Maurice and think it’s a shame that he’s leaving. He is an excellent anchor. I wish him all the best.
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L
Interesting. I believe Dokoupil is married to Katy Tur of MS-NOW.
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G
I feel confident that Tony, a consummate news man, would prefer delivering the nightly news to hawking products and interviewing entertainers
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M
We need not the far left we need the reporting like the Oreilly who reports fair and balance who does not leave unreporting events ok not the loons who report fake the news.
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J
I like Tony. He's kind of a lovable nerd.
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C
Heading over to NBC fully now. CBS has not been my favorite for a longtime. Loved John Dickerson and watched every night but i did not like 2 anchors.. Leave Tony in the morning. You lost my morning viewership when the morning news went more comedy ,sports than news. Tony reminds me of the class clown. I can not see him as a serious world news anchor. Try those who have done the weekend slots before Tony. I can't picture him heading to Ukraine, Venezuela or anywhere that is high risk. Much success to Maurice and my favorite John Dickerson.
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G
New year coming up we can look for change good luck to whoever they pick and good luck to those that are leaving.❤️
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J
I love the idea of Tony for CBS evening news he is nice looking good personality very professional and just as Norah did he would not miss waking up very early in the morning
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B
Stay internal. But, please, don't have dueling anchors. Maurice and John were both great, but the banter was too contrived. One at a time, alternating nights, would have been better.
I think Jericka Duncan would be great. Better than Norah was.
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T
Tony my first pick
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