Exclusive | CBS scrambles to sign Tony Dokoupil as – Business News
CBS News scrambled Thursday to sign Tony Dokoupil to helm “CBS Evening News” — after insiders claimed Maurice DuBois went “rogue” and shocked his bosses by revealing he was leaving the community, The Post has realized.
While insiders cautioned the talks might fall by means of, “CBS Mornings” co-host Dokoupil has been a frontrunner for the job and a favourite of each Bari Weiss, the community’s editor in chief, and Tom Cibrowski, its president, as The Post beforehand reported.
Sources mentioned negotiations went into high gear after DuBois was instructed by higher-ups final week that he was not “the future” of “CBS Evening News” — prompting the anchor to go off-script by posting his own goodbye on his Instagram web page Thursday.
“CBS Mornings” co-anchor Tony Dokoupil is in talks to anchor “CBS Evening News,” sources instructed The Post. CBS by way of Getty Images
A source close to CBS claimed that the community had already been conscious of DuBois’ plan to post his information on Instagram — however different insiders close to the community mentioned in any other case.
“He went rogue,” a CBS insider mentioned, including that DuBois had not been onboard with the company’s plan to announce his departure the identical time it revealed his alternative.
“Maurice’s announcement sped up the timeline” to exchange DuBois, a transfer initially deliberate for the New Year, the individual mentioned. That left the community hustling to renegotiate Dokoupil’s contract together with his agent, UTA’s Jay Sures.
Maurice DuBois (left) and John Dickerson (proper) will go away CBS this month, ending their short tenure as co-anchors of “CBS Evening News.” CBS by way of Getty Images
Sures, DuBois and CBS News declined to remark.
CBS News was anticipated to announce that Dokoupil will turn out to be the only real anchor of the show within the coming days, sources mentioned.
When requested Thursday who will exchange DuBois, a CBS rep merely shared a “thank you” memo Cibrowski wrote in regards to the outgoing journo, with no point out of what would occur to the distinguished show.
CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss has expressed curiosity in a handful of anchors for the “Evening News” job, together with selling Dokoupil to the position. Getty Images for The Free Press
DuBois broke the information of his exit Thursday morning, saying his final day on the community the place he labored for 21 years can be Dec. 18.
DuBois — who’s best recognized for anchoring WCBS-TV in New York — nabbed the spot at “CBS Evening News” with co-anchor John Dickerson final January.
Dickerson revealed in late October that he was leaving the community on the finish of the 12 months, sparking rumors that Dubois would doubtless observe swimsuit. A source close to Dickerson mentioned his final day will likely be Dec. 19.
Sources mentioned CBS News is scrambling to ink Dokoupil’s new contract to anchor the “Evening News” in time for the new 12 months. CBS
DuBois’ announcement shocked CBS insiders and media watchers, who thought it odd that the community had no information on who would host the venerable nightly information show.
Weiss mulled candidates such as Fox News’ Bret Baier and Dana Perino, however each had been beneath long-term contracts. She additionally expressed curiosity in CNN’s Anderson Cooper and ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman for the “CBS Evening News” anchor chair, in accordance to studies.
Dokoupil’s exit would spur adjustments at “CBS Mornings,” which has been rumored for upheaval. CBS by way of Getty Images
The downside Weiss faces, of course, is a restricted funds and the surface expertise’s present contract obligations.
That leaves Dokoupil, who makes a more modest wage than his co-hosts Gayle King and Nate Burleson, sources mentioned.
Assuming the deal will get inked, it calls into query who will exchange the morning show co-anchor.
King’s identify has been aired as somebody who would possibly get pushed out of the community due to her hefty $13 million wage. But one insider speculated that if the community might get her pay down, it is perhaps value protecting the star anchor and getting rid of Burleson, who is claimed to make a multimillion-dollar wage.
“It’s a game of chess,” mentioned a second CBS source. “It all depends on where the chips fall.”
