Latest ‘CBS Evening News’ Ratings Mark More Bad News for Tony Dokoupil
What To Know
- CBS Evening News, anchored by Tony Dokoupil, continues to rank last among major networks..
- In contrast, ABC World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News both saw significant increases in total and demo viewers.
- CBS News faces internal turmoil under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, with staff departures and accusations of politicized editorial interference.
CBS Evening News’ losing streak continues. But not only is the Tony Dokoupil-anchored program running in last place, but it’s also losing viewers in the advertiser-friendly Adults 25–54 demographic.
For the week of July 6, CBS Evening News averaged 3.788 million total viewers and 497,000 viewers in the demo, according to live and same-day Nielsen viewership data cited by TVNewser. That’s a 1-percent gain in total viewers, but a 1-percent loss in demo viewers.
In fact, CBS Evening News is the only evening news program on broadcast TV to have lost 25-to-54-year-old viewers week over week. It’s also the only one to lose viewers year over year, too, down 2 percent in total viewers and 1 percent since the same time in 2025.
NBC Nightly News YouTube; CBS Evening News YouTube; ABC World News Tonight YouTube
By comparison, ABC World News Tonight, anchored by David Muir, came in first place during the week of July 6, with an average of 8.291 million total viewers and 1.058 million demo viewers, a 2-percent rise in total viewers and a 10-percent rise in demo viewers week over week. Year over year, the program is up 14 percent in total viewers and up 7 percent in demo viewers.
And Tom Llamas’ NBC Nightly News came in second place for the week, with 6.380 million total viewers, up 4 percent week over week, and 935,000 demo viewers, up 9 percent. Compared against the same week last year, the program was up 14 percent in total viewers and up 9 percent in the demo.
Dokoupil’s tenure as CBS Evening News anchor got off to a rocky start in January — when he controversially distanced the program from legacy media and expert commentary, gave major screen time to a polarizing interview with Pete Hegseth, suffered humiliating on-air mix-ups during his official first broadcast, offered a much-criticized take on the January 6 Capital riots, got a legal threat from the White House, and spurred mockery by interviewing his mom.
And CBS News has racked up negative press so far this year under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and corporate boss David Ellison. Weiss has let several CBS News veterans go, including ones who have accused leadership of politicized editorial interference. And several more employees have quit, including CBS Evening News producer Alicia Hastey.
In a farewell note to colleagues, Hastey said that CBS News stories “may instead be evaluated not just on their journalistic merit but on whether they conform to a shifting set of ideological expectations — a dynamic that pressures producers and reporters to self-censor or avoid challenging narratives that might trigger backlash or unfavorable headlines.”
Conversation39 Comments
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G
Well, perhaps if CBS got RID of that anti-American coward, bari weiss, things MIGHT improve there.
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S
He's following instruction from Ellison. It's only going to get worse there until somebody else takes over but that's going to be a long time
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S
It's not Tony's fault
ITS CBS
We haven't watched one program since Colberts last show.
And I LOVE Tony
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P
Well we already know anything Trump touches turns to garbage
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C
I quit watching CBS all together
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R
I don’t think it’s Tony’s fault I stop watching CBS after they were bought out and that woman Weiss takes over and tells them what to say and watch .
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N
It's the Trump Curse!
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I
Your the curse as a matter of fact Trump is the best president we have had in my 80 year lifetime.
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S
You're blinded by that sexy body
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S
I really like Tony , I think people are not watching because CBS is destroying itself as we watch, getting rid of Colbert ( because of Trump) did them in , I like some of the prime time programming on CBS this fall but I won’t tune in anymore, they have ruined it for me sorry to say but this is a land of free speech and when they try to silence that I’m done, I will miss my fall programs, but there’s plenty of other things to watch. I won’t watch CBS.
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T
Every night he says "Breaking News" and it's not breaking news. Extremely annoying.
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G
EVERY station in the nation, including local TV, has been using this phrase for a couple of years. IMO it's indicitative of the fall of the news apparatus these days. Although I do not watch CBS much anymore.... guess why.... I don't think this can be held against the "Tony" guy..... JMO
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N
Watching the Dokoupil CBS Evening News in search of meaningful, substantive journalism only leads to frustration and disappointment. Once a pillar of American broadcast news, CBS News with Dokoupil has devolved into an irrelevant program on a rapidly failing network. It's a genuine loss for American journalism.
Not a single person I know — from college students to young adults to prime-age professionals — watches CBS News or takes the King-lead (?) CBS Mornings seriously anymore. That demographic collapse alone should be alarming to every executive in that building.
What makes this particularly infuriating is that CBS leadership is not even attempting reinvention. This is not creative destruction with a vision for something bold and new on the other side. It's destruction purely for destruction's sake — a Bari Weiss-style scorched earth strategy of burning it all down and walking away from the wreckage. CBS News and American journalism deserves better.
And so does the American public.
Get rid of Dokoupil and Gail King, each, a collsousal waste of our time, and a lost battle for all CBS stockholders money.
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R
Tony made a good move to distance from Gayle King because she's nothing but a gossip queen and Nate is nothing but a glorified football player but Tony needs to get away from CBS News. Not that my opinion means anything but he needs to make a big move if he wants to be taken seriously cause CBS is going down fast.
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T
Keep in mind that Dokoupil was CHOSEN by Bari Weiss to be the new lead anchor of the CBS Evening News yet he has proven that he was never ready and never will be. He is the leader of a sinking ship that has fallen apart at Weiss' command.
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J
Haven't watched CBS since they took off Steven Colbert. CBS can go to hell now, sorry it already did
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S
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
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N
I go back to the days of real news under Walter Cronkite. The current version of CBS News does not inform. It is mere fluff. If you want real news try PBS or BBC. Americans are not being informed by the three major networks.
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A
Tony’s skating on thin ice. Hrs an excellent reporter who belongs on another network. CBS sucks. New ownership aligned w Trump
Get out of there Tony
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G
Excellent reporter oh you mean a cat stuck in a tree report lmao yeah he’s great
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T
Tony like all of us, are looking for the next great gig. He took his current position not realizing how ham strung he was going to be by CBS. I don't blame him, he was blindsided by CBS into being their nice looking puppet. Now if he renews his contract with CBS, I'd stop giving him the benefit of the doubt. In the meantime, I really enjoy watching Tom on NBC.
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CBS is done. I won't watch.
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P
I like Tony. He's a REAL PERSON, not one of the YES people!!!!!! He will tell u the facts and let u decide. The worst thing CBS could have done is try to change 60min and get rid of Scott Pelly, he was 1 of the best. Too many dont like Tony cause he states FACTS not the political BULLSHITthat those at the top want. Keep Tony and get rid of those at the top that want to change everything. IF ITS NOT BROKE DONT FIX IT!!!!!!!!!
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G
CBS makes THREE (3) BIG MISTAKES...
FIRED SCOTT PELLY
FIRED STEPHEN COLBERT
CANCELED BLUE BLOODS
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S
Tony Dokoupil appears to be doing good, now that the initial mess, is over. I have watched him in the morning show and always thought he brought something special to that show. He is bringing professional reporting to the evening news and spent the time getting there. Don't try to ruin the best thing they have going because of the political atmosphere. He deserves the spot. Ask Scott !
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G
This year I deleted cbs from all my channel lineups
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M
Tony needs to go back to CBS mornings. That’s where he shined and fit in. The morning show needs him back too it hasn’t been the same either. I like the comradery between Gail, Nate and Vlad.
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T
I prefer him over David Muir but he airs at 6:30, an hour later than ABC in PNW.
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E
I’ve not only written off 60 Minutes but CBS as a whole. Give me one good reason why I should believe one thing they say.
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F
Get rid of weiss,why did CBS broadcast trumps speech. Weiss is promoting trump. Tony is not the problem. I also turned off CBS mornings gale should go nate also. I want news not varity.
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T
We like him. I think it's just people watch other channels, has nothing to do with the person
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C
Bring back Maurice Dubious!
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A
Three letters: NTD. CHECK IT OUT
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B
I think Tony is doing a great job…in the evening….David M offers nothing and reports on really what’s happening in our country….wake up America….
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L
I think Tony is doing an excellent job
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D
Tony Is my go to guy wherever he is, period! Miss him on the Morning Show. Never watch NBC or ABC
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D
I guess the goal is to keep pushing this same old story in the hope that Bari Weiss is fired but its a nothing story at this point. We know this already and David Ellison is standing by her. So move on
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P
Bari Weiss is doing what David Ellison and Trump wants
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D
We watch every night, Tony does a great job! Keep up the good work Tony!
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