Tony Dokoupil 'Starting To Panic' As Ratings Dip Further After Longtime CBS Viewers Allegedly Checked Out

Tony Dokoupil is reportedly unsure of his next steps as ratings for his CBS program have declined further over the past week.

The veteran journalist, who took over as host of CBS Evening News earlier in January, has been ever since his hiring didn't give the show the boost it desperately needed.

The declining ratings are said to have sparked conversations about Tony Dokoupil possibly leaving, while reports have also claimed that the editorial direction is to blame for the show's ratings issues.

Tony Dokoupil has not had the smoothest transition into his recent role as host of CBS Evening News, despite the high expectations he and the showrunners likely had when his appointment was first announced.

Earlier reports in January indicated that the program's viewership was already declining, and that downward trend appears to have continued into February.

According to Rob Shuter's #ShuterScoop, ratings for the broadcast have dropped by another 400,000 viewers in just one week.

While this week-to-week decline alone already points to a negative trajectory, the broader picture appears even more concerning, as overall viewership is down by approximately 600,000 when compared with this same time last year.

Due to the situation, Dokoupil, who was reportedly previously tense about the downward trend, has now begun to panic over the worsening situation.

"Tony is starting to panic," one CBS source told the outlet. "He's asking people what comes next — because he can feel this slipping away."

Amid the declining ratings, sources have attributed the situation to longtime viewers gradually losing interest in the show despite Dokoupil being a new face on the segment.

"Everyone sees the same thing," one insider shared. "Longtime viewers have checked out. And once they leave the habit, they don't come back."

Many factors seem to be at play in the departure of these legacy viewers. However, some believe that among these options, the decline has been mostly influenced by the editorial direction of the new boss, Bari Weiss.

Weiss was named editor-in-chief of CBS News on October 6, 2025, following Paramount's acquisition of her media company, The Free Press.

"The show doesn't know what it is anymore," a veteran producer, who is also frustrated with the situation, revealed. "It's neither trusted journalism nor compelling television. It's just… there."

Another factor contributing to the decline in viewership appears to be the bold promotional campaign that aired to mark Dokoupil's arrival.

In the promo, he could be seen criticizing legacy media for overlooking major stories.

"A lot has changed since the first person sat in this chair," he said, per the Los Angeles Times. "But for me, the biggest difference is people do not trust us like they used to. And it's not just us. It's all of legacy media."

"The point is, on too many stories the press has missed the story," he added. "Because we've taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American."

While the promo was intended to draw viewers in and build excitement for what was to come, sources previously claimed it alienated the "core audience."

Before taking over as host of CBS Evening News, Dokoupil expressed excitement at the prospect of following in the footsteps of legendary anchors such as Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather, who had previously held the prestigious position.

"It's exciting because of the legacy. It's exciting because of the history. I mean, the reason CBS connects with the culture of America and has done so for so long is because it's really good at what it does," Dokoupil said in an interview with People Magazine.

But with the ongoing situation showing no signs of improvement, he is reportedly worried it could tarnish his career and has quietly begun considering looking for new challenges outside the network.

"Tony didn't sign up to be a placeholder," a source told #ShutterScoop. "He wanted a legacy job. Now he's worried this will define him — and not in a good way."

"He's thinking three steps ahead," another insider also remarked. "Because if this collapses, he doesn't want to be standing there with nothing."

Amid the rumors surrounding his role at CBS, insiders claim the workload has also weighed heavily on Dokoupil's marriage to fellow journalist Katy Tur.

"He's working all the time," a source close to Dokoupil claimed, per reports. "When he's on the road, he's never home. And when he is home, his phone never stops ringing."

"There's a lot of micromanaging," a network source said of the situation. "Tony is under enormous scrutiny. Every editorial decision, every segment, every appearance — it's relentless."