CBS Evening News: A New Era Amidst Familiar Changes
Norah O'Donnell's farewell from "CBS Evening News" on Thursday night differed from viewer expectations, and the successor program on Monday will reflect this shift.
O'Donnell bid farewell with a surprise cameo from Oprah Winfrey, highlighting the anchor's tenure. She thanked viewers for embracing "hard news with heart" and expressed gratitude amidst well wishes from colleagues and family.
The revamped program will break visual ties to the past, where Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather delivered nightly news. CBS aims to align the national broadcast with the look and feel of local news, recognizing the continued popularity of local news among audiences increasingly reliant on streaming and digital sources.
The new "Evening News" will employ co-anchors, deviating from a single newscaster format. By incorporating local news elements, CBS aims to bridge the gap between its network and local stations. This strategy aligns with Paramount Global's cost-cutting measures, seeking to merge news teams for enhanced efficiency.
Despite "CBS Evening News" trailing behind ABC and NBC's evening programs, O'Donnell's run saw an increase in viewership, averaging over 5 million viewers last week. Additionally, she maintained her journalistic integrity, delivering fair and accurate reporting, including investigative pieces on military sexual assault and securing an interview with Pope Francis.
The new format will feature John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois as co-anchors, with Lonnie Quinn providing weather updates and Margaret Brennan contributing insights from her role as "Face The Nation" moderator. By leveraging local correspondents, the program aims to deliver on-the-ground coverage of breaking news stories.
Whether the audience will embrace these changes remains uncertain. Evening news continues to offer a reliable recap of daily events and stories, attracting a loyal viewership despite the emergence of breaking news chyrons and pharmaceutical advertisements. The success of the new "Evening News" format will depend on retaining viewers accustomed to the traditional single-anchor model.
O'Donnell's departure marks a new chapter for CBS News. As a senior correspondent, she will engage in high-impact interviews and enterprise reporting across CBS News platforms. This transition aligns with the industry-wide cost-cutting measures, highlighting the evolving landscape of television news.