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CBS backtracks on ‘Evening News’ revamp just weeks after launch – with network boss in the hot seat: sources
NY Post ^ | 2/20/25 | Alexandra Steigrad

Posted on 02/20/2025 3:39:10 PM PST by Libloather

CBS News is already backtracking on a revamp of its “Evening News” program — and the network’s embattled boss risks becoming a casualty, The Post has learned.

Just weeks after a drastic overhaul replaced Norah O’Donnell with a “60 Minutes”-style news magazine helmed by a pair of little-known anchors, the Tiffany Network is reverting to a more news-driven broadcast as ratings tumble, sources said.

That’s after embarrassments like last week, when the “Evening News” led with “Why can’t Johnny read?” — a six-minute feature package about student literacy — despite a busy news cycle that included Elon Musk appearing at the White House and Russia’s release of a US prisoner.

“They’ve realized they can’t ignore the news,” said an industry insider of the third-place show. “You can’t really ignore the tsunami of news that is coming out of the White House and Washington.”

The new format was the brainchild of CBS News CEO and president Wendy McMahon, who wanted to shake up the perennially third-place program anchored by O’Donnell for the past five years.

McMahon tapped “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens to bring longer reported pieces to the “Evening News.” She also replaced O’Donnell with lesser-known — and less expensive anchors Maurice DuBois and Jeff Dickerson.

The duo has been widely panned by current and former CBS News employees.

One source said Dickerson “looked like a deer in the headlights” during the nightly broadcast, while another said former WCBS anchor DuBois is a “complete unknown” to anyone outside of the New York City market.

“There are a couple of things you want from an anchorman or woman,” said a former news executive. “You want to invite them into your house because you like them. Or they have to have credibility.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; History; Local News
KEYWORDS: cbs; eveningnews; media; msm; network
Devastating news.
1 posted on 02/20/2025 3:39:10 PM PST by Libloather
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To: Libloather

They are pushing a decrepit failed business model.

Nobody watches it.


2 posted on 02/20/2025 3:42:01 PM PST by Col Frank Slade
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To: Libloather

CBS? Never heard of it.


3 posted on 02/20/2025 3:42:54 PM PST by bertmerc1 (Conservative Buddhist)
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To: Libloather
Norah O'Donnell has melanoma, diagnosed a couple weeks after the election.

Her election night coverage was pretty neutral. She didn't seem to care that Kamala lost, unlike almost every other news twinkie. I'm sure she was a Kamala sista, but she thankfully did her best to suppress it before the camera.

4 posted on 02/20/2025 3:44:25 PM PST by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and His mercy endureth forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: Libloather

There’s no ‘fixing’ them. Way too far gone to ever regain credibility.


5 posted on 02/20/2025 3:45:13 PM PST by Bullish (...And just like that I was kicked off the Ping list.)
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To: Libloather
Lesser-known — and less expensive anchors is definitely a good idea.

And nevermind inviting them into the house because you like them. Just concentrate on credibility.

6 posted on 02/20/2025 3:50:38 PM PST by Savage Beast (There's a Light over the Whole World. I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well. --DJT)
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To: Col Frank Slade

I think you are right, the old nightly network news model doesn’t work, mostly because they don’t show much news. And what they do show is blatantly slanted, or just tabloid stuff. Maybe a headline or two of real news but that is all. If you were raised with the Huntley-Brinkley Report, or ABC News with Howard K Smith and Harry Reasoner, you know what I mean.


7 posted on 02/20/2025 4:01:58 PM PST by hinckley buzzard ( Resist the narrative.)
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To: Libloather

Amazing how many don’t know the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Bye, network news liars.


8 posted on 02/20/2025 4:05:24 PM PST by mikey_hates_everything
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To: Libloather

No big fan of Norah here, to put it politely, but no doubt she is having the last laugh right now with whatever her severance was.

Meanwhile on the Sunday morning show, Margaret still can’t understand normal thinking.


9 posted on 02/20/2025 4:12:38 PM PST by OKSooner (Communists gonna communist.)
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To: Libloather

“Tiffany network”?

I’m picturing something more like Duke& Gigi’s Bedazzler Booty-que.


10 posted on 02/20/2025 4:20:02 PM PST by _longranger81
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To: Libloather

And then there is Sunday’s 60 minutes....


11 posted on 02/20/2025 4:21:24 PM PST by DAC21
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To: Libloather

Every time See-BS is involved in anything, there should be a large sign: FAKE BUT ACCURATE. If any See-BS staff are in the White House press room, there should be a flag attached to the chair, a tall flag, with FAKE BUT ACCURATE.


12 posted on 02/20/2025 4:23:17 PM PST by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try)
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Almost forgot -

Paramount Executives Ask: Could They Be Sued for Settling Trump’s $20 Billion CBS Lawsuit?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/paramount-executives-ask-could-they-be-sued-for-settling-trump-s-20-billion-cbs-lawsuit/ar-AA1z4Rt5


13 posted on 02/20/2025 4:27:06 PM PST by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: Libloather
See-BS just needs to fire Dan Blather and get it over with.

I haven't watched in many decades and probably never will....

14 posted on 02/20/2025 5:21:50 PM PST by rhinohunter (Free at last, free at least! Thank Almighty God, we're free at last!)
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To: Libloather

I heard they were going to switch to a format more in line with a local newscast. The only thing that even resembled that was it being co-anchored at a small newsdesk when I saw it flipping through channels the other day...didn’t realize they had also changed it to a “news magazine” format.

They should actually try the local news format - news, weather, sports, and have the format of the show flow just like a local newscast, including new music bumpers and graphics. Of course, with actual unbiased reporting if they can actually accomplish that.


15 posted on 02/20/2025 5:26:25 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
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To: rhinohunter
fire Dan Blather and get it over with. I haven't watched in many decades and probably never will....

LOL! At first I was about to correct you (two decades late) but then I got it after re-reading.

16 posted on 02/20/2025 5:27:42 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
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To: Libloather

Kind of disappointed at least as for Maurice Dubois. He’s been on Ch 2 as 5 and 11 co anchor for a long time. He’s IMO been a good guy and never showed much if any slanted news.


17 posted on 02/20/2025 5:29:07 PM PST by xkaydet65
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To: Libloather

Wendy? She sounds serious.

“How can we rebrand our shit narrative people?”

Brad? Ideas?


18 posted on 02/20/2025 6:36:19 PM PST by WeaslesRippedMyFlesh
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To: Libloather
"...CBS News CEO and President Wendy..."

I think I see the problem here.

19 posted on 02/20/2025 6:40:11 PM PST by Mr. Lucky
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