Tony Dokoupil's CBS Evening News Struggles as Ratings Hit Record Lows After 16 Weeks

Tony Dokoupil has steered CBS Evening News for 16 weeks, yet the show’s ratings continue to decline, suggesting an uphill battle for the anchor. The program hit its lowest-rated month in total viewers since Dokoupil took over, averaging less than 3.9 million viewers throughout April.

In the advertiser-coveted 25-54 age demographic, the show averaged 497,000 viewers, marking its lowest April in this key group this century. However, the show saw a 2% increase in total viewers compared to April 2025, which remains its lowest-rated April in total viewers this century.

These figures reflect a dismal start to Dokoupil’s second quarter as anchor, raising questions about whether his leadership can revive the perennially third-place program. The show averaged 4.279 million viewers in its first quarter, down 7% from the same period last year, while its 25-54 audience was at 535,000 viewers, down nearly 20%.

“Tony Dokoupil is an exceptional talent and experienced journalist who continues to build a program designed to reach audiences wherever they consume the news.”

Throughout April, more than three weeks averaged under 4 million total viewers, including every weekday between April 13 and April 24. The show’s lowest-rated week was last week, averaging 3.78 million total viewers and 467,000 viewers in the demo.

CBS Evening News underwent its first major programming overhaul under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who took the helm in October. The revamped show posted a ratings average of 3.75 million total viewers and 435,000 in the demo.

The previous iteration, led by John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, was widely seen as needing a revamp. Dokoupil, a longtime anchor of CBS Mornings, was considered a likely replacement due to his years at the network and his alignment with Weiss on issues such as Israel.

In a pre-debut message, Dokoupil outlined his vision for the broadcast, aiming to dismiss “the analysis of academics or elites” in favor of the average viewer’s perspective. He also pledged to make the show “more accountable and more transparent” than the Walter Cronkite-era CBS Evening News.

Since taking over, Dokoupil has faced criticism over his coverage of the Trump administration and interviews with key figures, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and former President Donald Trump.

Network executives attribute the continued decline to broader viewership trends, according to an individual familiar with the matter. Audiences are increasingly shifting from linear television to streaming platforms and YouTube. The individual noted that there was no expectation for Dokoupil to reverse the show’s ratings within 16 weeks, emphasizing that his revamped program should remain the ultimate priority. While they believe the numbers will eventually improve compared to last year, they acknowledged there is no set timetable for when these results may materialize.

Meanwhile, competitors such as ABC News’ World News Tonight averaged 8.54 million viewers and roughly 1.1 million in the demo—more than double the numbers of CBS Evening News.