CBS Unveils New Format For Venerable ‘Evening News’

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CBS is experimenting with fresh components yet again for one of its longest-standing and well-known shows, “The CBS Nightly News.

On Monday, CBS News made significant changes to their news program by eliminating several of its distinctive features, which are also used by competitors like NBC News’ “NBC Nightly News” and ABC News’ “World News Tonight.” Instead of rapid-fire story counts and a heavy emphasis on the anchor delivering news, they now present fewer stories with more detail, an increased focus on field reporters, and incorporation of elements reminiscent of their prestigious newsmagazine, “60 Minutes.” Additionally, there seems to be a touch of “PBS NewsHour” style incorporated as well.

John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois acted as tour guides, leading viewers on an extended exploration of insurance difficulties faced by California wildfire victims and a probe into Chinese intelligence attempts to enlist U.S. military personnel, while also briefly acknowledging the latest news updates of the day.

Bill Owens, producer of “60 Minutes” and also responsible for “Evening News,” stated during an August interview with EbMaster that they are eliminating unnecessary elements. He clarified, “We won’t focus on things we believe people might be interested in, but rather dedicate ourselves to genuine, serious reporting.” Owens added, “We’re returning to our core areas of coverage, taking into account the insights from our reporters in the field about what they have uncovered, and not being swayed by headlines online or in newspapers.

Additionally, certain film elements echoed Owens’ past haunts, like brief scenes showing reporters live on location teasing upcoming news segments.

There’s a possibility that the show may be intellectually stimulating to a degree that exceeds its audience’s expectations. Today’s viewers tend to have limited attention spans, and those who still prefer broadcast TV often lean towards a single, authoritative figure discussing politics, natural disasters, global issues, and even popular culture.

For several months, the changes were anticipated. After more than five years as the host, Norah O’Donnell bid farewell last Thursday to embark on a new position as a senior correspondent. Under the leadership of Paramount Global, CBS News has been mandated to pool its news-gathering resources with the newsrooms of its local stations. As a result, DuBois, a seasoned anchor from WCBS New York, and Dickerson, whose political analysis skills have seen him on “Face The Nation” and “CBS This Morning,” among others, have been paired together in an unusual collaboration. On Monday, they both appeared on the set at times alongside Margaret Brennan, who provided insights from Washington, and Lonnie Quinn, who discussed weather nationwide.

A significant portion of the half-hour time slot was dedicated to sharing enterprise and narrative stories about businesses – this is because people can access breaking news from numerous digital and conventional outlets. However, what they cannot find elsewhere is firsthand reporting by correspondents who are physically present at the scene.

For quite some time now, “CBS Evening News” has been trailing its competing broadcast networks, and the frequent changes in anchors haven’t seemed to boost audience numbers significantly. Recently, there have been financial pressures arising from Paramount Global’s efforts to reduce costs, and the proposed acquiring company is also suggesting further cuts. Given this situation, it appears that DuBois and Dickerson, who are already occupied with other tasks, may not travel extensively to crisis zones or crucial events, instead relying on the correspondents who are already stationed globally.

CBS has attempted to modernize “Evening News” for today’s viewers on several occasions, but found it challenging. In 2006, Katie Couric was brought in as anchor with the aim of revitalizing the format by incorporating more personal stories and interviews. However, despite her dedication, CBS discovered that viewers weren’t necessarily drawn to these changes. After a five-year run at CBS, Couric moved on. Additionally, an attempt was made in the mid-1990s to team Connie Chung with Dan Rather, but this collaboration only lasted for about two years.

In an effort to stay relevant amidst changing audience preferences, CBS News is making another attempt, and the stress levels are running high. As younger audiences turn towards a variety of non-conventional sources for news, CBS can’t risk losing touch with its viewers. On Monday night, Dickerson, DuBois, and their team presented a more casual take on the evening news format, allowing for live discussions about their reporting among colleagues on set. However, off-camera, everyone will be working hard to maintain their position in this competitive landscape.

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2025-01-28 04:22