CBS Unveils New Format For Venerable ‘Evening News’

variety.com:

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor CBS is once again testing out new ingredients for one of its oldest, most recognizable programs, “The CBS Evening News.” On Monday, CBS News jettisoned many of the signature elements of the program — the ones that are also utilized by its main competitors, NBC News’ “NBC Nightly News” and ABC News’ “World News Tonight.” Gone are the rat-a-tat story counts and main focus on the anchor delivering the headlines.

In their place: fewer stories told with more depth and enterprise; a focus on reporters in the field; and elements that nod to the network’s venerable newsmagazine, “60 Minutes.” And perhaps a little “PBS NewsHour” on the side?

John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois served as guides of a sort, taking viewers through a longer-than-expected segment about insurance challenges for California residents affected by the recent wildfires and an investigative piece that examined Chinese intelligence efforts to recruit members of the U.S.

military, as well as quick nods of just a few seconds to some of the breaking-news headlines of the day. ““We are removing the clutter,” Bill Owens the “60 Minutes” executive producer who added “Evening News” to his portfolio, told Variety during an interview in August. “We are not going to be dealing with the things we think people might want to see, and we are going to be about real serious reporting.