The "CBS Evening News" experienced its most-watched month since March during a recent two-week period when anchor Tony Dokoupil was on vacation and substitute host Matt Gutman helmed the broadcast. Nielsen data for the week of July 27 shows that Gutman attracted an average of 4.1 million viewers, surpassing Dokoupil's average for July by 300,000.
This development places additional pressure on Dokoupil, who has struggled to consistently reach the 4 million viewer mark since taking over the "CBS Evening News" in December. His predecessor anchors, as reported by Status, also faced ratings challenges, leading to a network overhaul initiated by Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. Weiss, appointed in October by Paramount CEO David Ellison, aims to revitalize CBS News and expand its reach.
Dokoupil, 45, who also hosts "CBS Mornings," is currently on a two-week leave. This absence has led some network executives to question the timing, especially during the summer months when struggling programs often attempt to gain viewership. One executive noted that taking an extended vacation while trying to rebuild an audience is "a headscratcher" and suggests a potential lack of commitment.
Gutman, 48, the network's chief correspondent, was brought to "CBS Evening News" around the same time Dokoupil was elevated. Before joining CBS, Gutman spent several years with ABC News. His temporary role at the "CBS Evening News" saw the program achieve its highest viewership figures since March, a milestone Dokoupil has not reached in months. The report by Status highlighted that the 4 million viewer benchmark has long been considered a minimum acceptable audience for the broadcast.
Sources within CBS News have expressed concerns about the direction of the news division under Weiss. One staffer reportedly stated that "the problem is clearly Bari" and that "we need Ellison’s help" to improve the situation. The "CBS Evening News" has been undergoing significant changes as part of an effort to recover from a previous dual-anchor experiment that reportedly caused a loss of over 1.2 million viewers.