CBS Evening News Hits 4-Million Viewership Mark While Anchor on Vacation

During a two-week summer vacation taken by main anchor Tony Dokoupil, the CBS Evening News recorded more than 4 million viewers for the first time since March. The increase occurred while substitute anchor Matt Gutman led the broadcast, delivering what reporting by *Status* described as the best-rated week for the program in 17 weeks, with an average of 4.1 million viewers during his first week on the job. *Status* attributed the ratings lift to Gutman’s presence rather than to Dokoupil’s performance.

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CBS News programs have faced a broader ratings slump throughout the summer. The Evening News fell below the 4-million threshold in March amid a “MAGA makeover” overseen by Bari Weiss. At the same time, CBS Mornings logged its lowest-rated week in July, and flagship shows such as *60 Minutes* have seen veteran correspondents depart. The network also cut *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* earlier in the year as owner David Ellison pursued a merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

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• Tony Dokoupil – Main anchor of the CBS Evening News, installed in January; his tenure has been marked by staff dissent over his video manifestos and public criticism from figures including former President Donald Trump and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA).

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• Matt Gutman – Substitute anchor who stepped in for Dokoupil’s vacation; his week in July produced the noted ratings bump.

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• 4 million+ viewers – First breach of the benchmark since March.

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• 4.1 million average – Viewership during Gutman’s first week, representing the strongest week in 17 weeks.

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The unexpected ratings lift suggests that temporary anchor changes can influence audience numbers, challenging assumptions that a single anchor’s presence is the primary driver of viewership. CBS executives may need to reassess the impact of anchor assignments and the broader programming strategy amid ongoing summer rating challenges.

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