After Norah O’Donnell’s Exit, CBS News Faces Mass Exodus
After Norah O’Donnell left CBS News, at the end of January, many things changed. However, with her exit, the network is now facing a mass exodus at a shocking rate within its operations.
Norah O’Donnell Left Room For Change
Undoubtedly, CBS News is going through major changes. While Norah O’Donnell wrapped up her time with CBS Evening News near the end of January, the network has been feeling pressure. Even in daytime counterpart, CBS This Morning, there has been a huge shake-up that has co-host Gayle King ready to march out. But after five and a half years, Norah said goodbye and the network hasn’t been the same since.
After Norah O’Donnell’s Exit, CBS News Shifted
During Norah O’Donnell’s last week at CBS News, viewership rose a bit higher than the usual ratings. She pulled in an average of 5.037 million viewers at that point even with a new president taking office just days before her exit. However, big changes made after she left are making the rating plummet.
Many networks such as ABC, NBC, and CNN have all felt the pains of personnel leaving in the past few years. As schedules shifted and layoffs were on the table, they each scrambled to grab viewers’ attention. Much like its competitors, CBS also was well aware of the transitions happening and made changes to the evening news. After Norah left, CBS moved two anchors into the position, Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson. But that wasn’t the only difference. CBS restructured the format making it more magazine-style instead of focusing on headline leads. Yet, this seems to be missing the mark which has executives concerned.
Faces Mass Exodus
A source said to be a former exec, divulged that the new format has made the CBS Evening News a “disaster.” Additionally, the insider says, “It’s been critically panned, ratings down week by week and from this time last year.” Just days after the exit of CBS’ President of Editorial and Newsgathering Adrienne Roark the insider reports that they’re feeling the stress. They added, “Executive Producer] Bill Owens is also overstretched and feeling the pressure with this lawsuit from Donald Trump.” Suspicions indicate that CEO Wendy McMahon may be next on the chopping block. The exit of people and viewers is likened to a “five-alarm fire.”
Furthermore, another veteran producer explains, “It’s mind-boggling.” They added, “They took the ‘news’ out of the ‘Evening News!’ It’s not surprising the audience is leaving in droves.’” Likewise, statistics from Nielsen show that the sentiments of the former staffers’ theories align with the fourteen percent drop in year-over-year viewership.
Norah O’Donnell’s Exit Now Leaves The Network In Crisis
While CBS admits they expected some drop in ratings, this drastic amount after Norah O’Donnell’s exit is indicating a crisis on their hands. In the week of February 10, there was a 24 percent drop in viewers among the 25-54 age range compared to just a year ago. With the change of format being closer to that of 60 Minutes and Access Hollywood, this is a red alert. The source elaborated that the drop in that age group is significant because of ads targeting that demographic.
They said, “That demographic is very important to advertisers.” Furthermore, they assert that the new structure’s “experiment is failing.” Additionally, after comparing the number to their competition, the insider had more bad news. Wendy McMahon and Bill Owens’ decision to “reinvent” the CBS Evening News may be their downfall. They said, “It’s almost impossible to build it once you’ve lost it. So to have a drop off like that suggests that this asset… is circling the drain.”
Missing Out On What Matters To Viewers
Sadly, they are not giving the major headlines the attention that viewers are seeking. Instead of devoting time to the “hard-hitting news” from Washington DC, they are focusing more on subjects like the flu and the US education system. The source adds, “You are telling the audience that we are closed for business, go find out what’s happening somewhere else.” Additionally, they believe Wendy McMahon and Bill Owens lack the necessary skills to keep the network afloat. Especially, since the restructuring since Norah O’Donnell left which made it more like 60 Minutes. This is having them skip out on the low-hanging fruit that viewers want more of.
Do you think CBS Evening News will survive with the new format? Are you surprised with what has happened since Norah O’Donnell’s exit? Have they lost your viewership? Drop your comments below.
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Norah was my favorite among network stations. Since she left, I wave watched CBS Evening news twice. I was not happy with the new format. I’m forced to change networks. SCG, 76017
Same as SCG’s comment. I watched couple of times. Not good. You need a woman and to go back to the standard format. Just sayin