CBS Evening News Averages Under 3.9M Viewers in April

CBS Evening News, anchored by Tony Dokoupil since early January, has recorded its lowest monthly viewership since his appointment, averaging fewer than 3.9 million total viewers throughout April. The program also posted its weakest April performance in the adults 25-54 demographic this century, with 497,000 viewers.

Nielsen data for the week ending April 20 showed the broadcast averaging 3.7 million total viewers and 467,000 in the key demographic, marking the third straight week below the 4 million viewer threshold. In the first quarter of the year, the show averaged 4.279 million total viewers, a 7 percent decline from the prior year, and 535,000 adults 25-54, down nearly 20 percent.

The declines outpaced those of competitors. ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir averaged 8.54 million total viewers and about 1.1 million in the demographic last week, while NBC's Nightly News with Tom Llamas drew 6.17 million total viewers and 831,000 in the demographic.

CBS News executives attributed the trends to broader shifts in audience habits toward streaming platforms and online video, rather than changes in programming. A network spokesperson noted that April total viewership rose 2...