CBS News is reportedly nearing a decision to bring Anderson Cooper on board as the new anchor for CBS Evening News. According to insider sources from Status, the network’s recently appointed Editor-in-Chief, Bari Weiss, is particularly keen on the CNN veteran, who also serves as a correspondent for 60 Minutes. Weiss, having taken charge earlier this month, aims to revamp the Evening News. Speculation suggests that Cooper’s hefty $18 million annual contract with CNN is nearing its end, potentially paving the way for this transition.

Anderson Cooper was recently recognized as America’s most favored news anchor in a DailyMail+ Power List released in August. Meanwhile, John Dickerson, co-host of Evening News, announced his resignation on Monday following a tenure marked by unsatisfactory ratings. Sources indicated that Dickerson, a 16-year CBS stalwart, had been discreetly negotiating his departure for several weeks. This decision seems to correlate with the sweeping changes following CBS’s parent company, Paramount’s merger with David Ellison’s Skydance in July.

With the aim of rejuvenating Evening News, Weiss, known for her critical stance on traditional media, is determined to make significant changes. The show has faced a ratings slump since Dickerson and Maurice DuBois were appointed to take over from Norah O’Donnell earlier this year. In addition to Cooper, other potential candidates to fill Dickerson’s position include Fox News’ Bret Baier, CBS Mornings host Tony Dokoupil, and former anchor Norah O’Donnell.

Baier – whose contract with Fox News runs through 2028 – responded to reports of the interest in him Monday during an interview with Meghan McCain, saying he was ‘fl attered by all the press and everything like that, but I’m in a multi-year contract with Fox.’ He added, ‘ we’ll see what happens at the end of that.’ Internally, Dokoupil is another top candidate, Status reported.

He has helmed CBS Mornings alongside Gayle King since 2019. King’s contract is also up at the end of the year. O’Donnell, meanwhile, stepped away from the Evening News desk late last year after six years as host. Sources told Status that she is also being considered. Dickerson’s exit marks the first major talent change at the network since Weiss was installed as editor-in-chief. The multiyear deal he signed when he and DuBois were picked to host Evening News will be paid out in full, Status reported. The network has announced no new plans for DuBois.

CBS News standards chief Claudia Milne resigned earlier this month , telling her coworkers: ‘We live in complicated times. For our company, for our industry and for our country. In the spring, 60 Minutes Executive Producer Bill Owens and CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon both resigned over concerns with the company’s direction. Each was responsible for the Evening News revamp in January, which saw one anchor replaced with two despite decades of tradition. The Daily Mail has reached out to Paramount and CBS News for comment.