NEW YORK (AP) — Scott Pelley is out as “CBS Evening News” anchor, and he’ll be returning to full-time work at the network’s flagship newsmagazine “60 Minutes.”
Two people familiar with the situation confirmed reports on Wednesday that CBS is expected to announce Pelley’s departure shortly. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.
The CBS show is a distant third to ABC and NBC in the evening news rankings, and despite some critical success, has not been able to close the gap.
Reports of Pelley’s departure first surfaced in the New York Post, which said Pelley’s office at the evening news was being cleaned out on Tuesday. Pelley did not anchor the broadcast Tuesday, as it was announced he was on assignment for “60 Minutes.”
CBS did not comment on the reports.
Pelley began working at the “CBS Evening News” almost exactly six years ago, succeeding Katie Couric. It was a meat-and-potatoes newscast aligned with the traditions of CBS News, and lately has been produced by a former NBC News president, Steve Capus.
Evening news shows don’t have the influence they once had when the likes of Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw had the jobs. But collectively, they still reach more than 20 million viewers each night for half-hour summaries of the day’s news.
They haven’t necessarily been suited to the rush of news in the Trump era. Evening news ratings have been down while news junkies turn to prime-time cable newscasts.
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That’s an understatement.
I can’t remember the last time I watched any of the network news’ evening programs, and I’m an old guy whose viewing habits were formed back in the glory days of people like Huntley and Brinkley. Younger viewers must regard the act of watching the evening news as being on a par with going down to the newspaper office and hanging around on the street to see the breaking stories posted on the wall.
I’m always surprised to re-learn there are people who still watch American network evening news.
If ever I want to watch the evening news I go here:
Have been for years.
BBC World Report is good, also too.
PBS NewsHour is worth tuning in to. solid reporting, non-hysterical writing