Just one month into his role as anchor of CBS Evening News, Tony Dokoupil is facing a ratings challenge. According to Nielsen data reported by AdWeek, CBS Evening News saw declines in both total viewers and the key Adults 25-54 demographic during the week of January 26.
CBS Evening News Performance
CBS Evening News averaged 4.538 million total viewers and 623,000 viewers in the Adults 25-54 demo. That marked a 7% drop in total viewers and an 8% decline in the demo compared to the prior week. Year-over-year, the broadcast was down 6% in total viewers and 9% in the demo. Dokoupil officially took over the anchor desk on January 5, following the departures of John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, who briefly filled in after Norah O’Donnell’s exit. His appointment has drawn mixed reactions, with some critics questioning CBS’s editorial direction.
ABC World News Tonight
By contrast, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir continued to dominate. The broadcast drew 9.244 million total viewers and 1.182 million in the demo, up 3% in total viewers and 9% in the demo compared to the previous week. Year-over-year, ABC was up 11% in total viewers and 4% in the demo, solidifying its position as the top-rated evening newscast.
NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas finished second, averaging 7.150 million total viewers and 1.040 million in the demo. Compared to the prior week, NBC was up 4% in both categories. Year-over-year, NBC gained 3% in total viewers but slipped 5% in the demo.
The Competitive Landscape
The latest ratings underscore the competitive nature of evening news. ABC continues to lead comfortably, NBC holds steady in second place, and CBS faces the challenge of rebuilding momentum under Dokoupil’s leadership. With ratings closely watched by advertisers and industry insiders, the coming months will be critical for CBS as it seeks to regain ground.
