Two people familiar with the situation confirmed reports on Wednesday that CBS is expected to announce Pelley's departure shortly. 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. Pelley is expected to return to 60 Minutes.
Pelley Out As ‘CBS Evening News’ Anchor
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 New York Post first reported the story.
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.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
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.
Comments (17)
bart meyers says:
May 31, 2017 at 8:14 am
That’s too bad. I like Scott Pelley on both the nightly news and 60 Minutes. I liked the interaction between Pelley and the reporters and stories on the big monitors. I get that we are a ratings-driven business but it seems as if Pelley should have been given more time. Look what the CBS Morning News is doing when given time.
Cheryl Thorne says:
May 31, 2017 at 8:40 am
He was good initially but then he fell into the leftie mindset and is no different than the other 2 on NBC and ABC ..Nobody watches these newscasts any longer ..Look at the pathetic ratings..Talking heads giving us news we already know about as well as giving us fake news with a leftie spin…The other two need to go as well!!!!
kendra campbell says:
May 31, 2017 at 8:46 am
“Nobody watches these newscasts any longer.” 25 million = nobody. LOL!
John Bagwell says:
May 31, 2017 at 9:20 am
Of course….anything that you don’t like with is fake news, right?
Brian Bussey says:
May 31, 2017 at 11:00 am
when will you people realize there is no such thing as left or right leaning news?. there are only fact presented as we know them. if trump care is going to cause 24 million people to lose medical insurance and force taxpayers to subsidize their ER room bills, based on bipartisan congressional budget office estimates, that is stating reality as we know it. you call that leftie new because you don’t agree with it.
Teri Green says:
May 31, 2017 at 12:25 pm
How many of those 24 million that will lose health care didn’t want it and only signed up because they were taxed if they didn’t? You see your own example proves the bias. When you report one side of a story without ALL the facts from all sides and compare apples to oranges you get inaccuracies..
Veronica Serrano Padilla says:
May 31, 2017 at 2:56 pm
Their previous status is irrelevant. This doesn’t change the FACT that the CBO estimates 24 million people will lose medical insurance. It’s like argument the closure a manufacturing plant isn’t going to hurt the economy because all those employees didn’t have jobs before.
Ellen Samrock says:
May 31, 2017 at 9:14 pm
Exactly, Eric. Most of the estimated 24 million without health care are people who are not going to sign up for it for the simple reason that the government isn’t forcing them to. They voluntarily choose not to have health care. Scott Pelley thought he was going to take down Trump but it appears that Pelley’s boss, David Rhodes, got him first. So it goes.
Liz Sidoti and Bob Lewis says:
May 31, 2017 at 8:43 am
A sad day for Scott and CBS. He was doing a solid job and was particularly on point with the stories on President Trump and his administration. The evening newscasts may not draw the audiences that they did years ago, but they are the flagships of the news divisions for each network. Good luck, Scott. You deserve better.
Joe Jaime says:
May 31, 2017 at 8:59 am
Too bad… He is a good anchor…..maybe they need to replace the EP and start to promote the newscast.
Brian Bussey says:
May 31, 2017 at 11:01 am
personally, I thought Pelly was a little to stylized for that seat.
Snead Hearn says:
May 31, 2017 at 11:07 am
I don’t know about left or right reporting from Scott but I thought he was a solid anchor/reporter. I have never understood how ABC could win against CBS with the evening newscast and I don’t believe it is the fault of Scott. Take the money and enjoy 60 Minutes……
Snead Hearn says:
May 31, 2017 at 11:15 am
I have always wondered how ABC News could win against CBS in the evening and I don’t believe it is the fault of Scott Pelley. Take the money and enjoy 60 Minutes…..
corey fogle says:
May 31, 2017 at 11:45 am
I have no idea but my sense is this has nothing to do with ratings. Pelley’s a solid journalist and anchor and their newscast is much more serious than ABC’s awful newscast. Another brick in the wall of serious reporting has fallen.
Teri Green says:
May 31, 2017 at 12:28 pm
In the end you have to deliver. If your number are not there AND they are not the viewers the advertisers want you go
It reminds me of the 50s, when Desi Arnaz told Philip Morris it wasn’t his fault if no one wanted their cigarettes, he was delivering the audience. And he was, it was just that people that watched I Love Lucy didn’t smoke so no one bought the cigarettes. So it doesn’t matter how many people watch if those watching aren’t going to buy your product, why sponsor it.
Jack Steele says:
May 31, 2017 at 12:29 pm
I’ve tried to watch him only because I get home after the other two networks’ nightly newscasts have ended. His monotone voice is soooo boring, I’d almost fall asleep! Hope they find someone with a little more personality.
Barry Nulman says:
May 31, 2017 at 3:20 pm
He is a very good journalist and solid anchor when reporting non-political stories, but not a good enough actor to cover his flaming liberal political views. But ratings are ratings and they had to make a move.