Latest / Fresh Intelligence / EXCLUSIVE: Dead Man Talking! How CBS' Newbie Anchor Tony Dokoupil's Poor Performance and Tumbling Ratings Have Him on Network's Chopping Block
Transcript
- 0:05[SPEAKER_01]: Why scroll your feed?
- 0:06[SPEAKER_01]: When you can get the latest Aleb news with your eyes closed?
- 0:11[SPEAKER_01]: Here's Fresh Intelligence first to start your day.
- 0:18[SPEAKER_00]: CBS evening news anchor Tony Dukeopal's debut has raced concerns among executives regarding his future, with one insider bluntly stating, it's not working.
- 0:27[SPEAKER_00]: crash sparks.
- 0:29[SPEAKER_00]: The newscast is facing its lowest January ratings in over 25 years, with a significant 6% drop-in viewers compared to last year.
- 0:36[SPEAKER_00]: For the week of January 26, the program attracted 4.538 million viewers and just 623,000 in the coveted 25-54-age demographic, a decline of 1 million viewers from the previous year.
- 0:50[SPEAKER_00]: This downward trend has sparked worries within CBS, with insider suggesting that
- 0:56[SPEAKER_00]: That's not noise, that's a trend, remarked one source.
- 1:00[SPEAKER_00]: And trends get people replaced.
- 1:02[SPEAKER_00]: Though Duke Paul's show enjoyed a 6% rating increase on his debut night in early January, it failed to match last year's figures, experiencing double-digit percentage declines in both total viewers and the key demographic.
- 1:14[SPEAKER_00]: place spells.
- 1:15[SPEAKER_00]: Additionally, the broadcast remains in a disappointing third place, far behind ABC World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News.
- 1:23[SPEAKER_00]: Compounding the issues, 11 evening news staffers recently accepted buyouts as new editorial director Barry Weiss attempts to stabilize the faltering news division.
- 1:31[SPEAKER_00]: An internal email outlined Vices Vision for CBS News, stating, The evening news has a new host and a new directive and there will be more change coming.
- 1:40[SPEAKER_00]: face's internal whys has been criticized for steering the network's coverage to the right, leading some staffers to feel pressured when providing feedback.
- 1:48[SPEAKER_00]: It feels right now like if we offer feedback, alternatives, or constructive criticism that we are asking for targets on our backs, remarked one employee.
- 1:56[SPEAKER_00]: Furthermore, there are concerns over vices' choice of Ducople as the new anchor after she reportedly sought other high-profile personalities.
- 2:04[SPEAKER_00]: As one insider noted, looks like Bari is now rummaging through the bargain bin of personalities in tapping Ducupal as the new face of the evening news.