Why Maurice DuBois Is Really Leaving CBS Evening News
After more than two decades behind the desk, Maurice DuBois is exiting CBS Evening News as the network retools its lineup to stem sliding ratings; he revealed on Instagram that December 18 will be his last day, closing out a 21-year run.
Big shake-up at CBS: Maurice DuBois is leaving the network after more than two decades on the air. He says December 18 is his final day. There are a lot of moving parts behind this one, so let’s unpack what changed, why it happened, and what it signals about CBS’s nightly news strategy.
"December 18 will be my last day."
That’s from DuBois’s Instagram, marking the end of a 21-year run across CBS-owned stations. If you’ve watched WCBS in New York, you know the guy’s built-in calm is basically his brand. Which is why the timing — and the broader context — stands out.
So why is he leaving?
This is not a one-off departure. It’s part of a wider reset at CBS Evening News, which has been juggling leadership changes and a rework under the Paramount Skydance umbrella. John Dickerson exited in October, and having two familiar faces out the door in quick succession is unusual — and a very clear sign the show is being retooled.
New boss, new playbook
Here’s where it gets interesting: Paramount Skydance recently put opinion journalist Bari Weiss in as editor-in-chief for the CBS Evening News unit. She’s known for a bold, sometimes contrarian style — not exactly the standard-issue nightly news mold — and, per reports, she’s already reached out to several high-profile TV journalists about joining up. The hitch: a lot of those folks are locked into existing contracts, so hiring could take time. With DuBois stepping away, Weiss has room to shape the program the way she wants.
The ratings math that forced this
Numbers tell the story. In late November, CBS Evening News pulled in an average of 4.26 million viewers, trailing both competitors. In the 25–54 demo — the one advertisers obsess over — CBS lagged hard.
- ABC World News Tonight: 8.27 million
- NBC Nightly News: 6.24 million
- CBS Evening News: 4.26 million (427,000 in the 25–54 demo)
One theory floating around: the show’s pivot away from fast-twitch breaking news toward a slower, more measured format has not helped with viewers who want urgency at 6:30. That doesn’t mean slower is bad — it just means it has to be must-watch. The gap suggests it hasn’t been.
What DuBois leaves behind
DuBois has been a steady hand at WCBS in New York for years, earning a loyal audience that likes the understatement and the consistency. On air, his calm delivery played off John Dickerson’s more kinetic style — different energies that somehow clicked. That balance is now gone, at least for the moment.
The cost-cutting backdrop
Also worth noting: DuBois isn’t the only veteran stepping away. Jim Donovan in Philadelphia and Elliott Rodriguez in Miami are out as well, tied to broader cost reductions on the local side. It’s not just a creative reset — it’s financial, too.
What to watch next
With DuBois leaving and Dickerson already out, the show’s on-air identity is in flux. If Bari Weiss builds the team she clearly wants, expect tonal shifts and new voices — but don’t expect them overnight. The ratings pressure is real, the hires are complicated, and the timeline will likely be slower than the headlines suggest.