Shakeups at CBS may have an effect on extra than simply The Late Present With Stephen Colbert.
Following final month’s information that the late-night sequence will finish in Could 2026, a brand new report from the New York Submit alleges that CBS could not renew its cope with CBS Mornings cohost Gayle King when her contract expires that very same month. Per the outlet, King beforehand signed an $13 million to $15 million extension with the community by subsequent spring, and CBS will possible not provide her the identical deal once more.
The hypothesis surrounding King’s CBS future comes as Paramount just lately sealed an $8.4 million merger with the media firm Skydance. In accordance with the Submit, the merger gained FCC approval following Paramount’s elimination of DEI insurance policies and after Skydance agreed to rent an ombudsman to watch CBS Information for political bias.
The selections seemingly go in opposition to King and her government producer Shawna Thomas’ targets of selling range and inclusion on CBS Mornings below CBS co-CEO George Cheeks. A supply near the state of affairs instructed the New York Submit that King and Thomas’ “agenda” has alienated followers, resulting in a lower in viewership.
“The viewers doesn’t need woke. It doesn’t like progressive and provocative bookings,” a supply instructed the outlet. “The morning present viewers needs optimism and cheer and pleasure, and what they have been producing is at odds with viewers expectations.”
Michele Crowe/CBS
Although CBS Mornings has reportedly misplaced round 20 to 30% of its viewership within the 25-to-54-year-old demographic over the previous three weeks, one other supply instructed the New York Submit that the morning present remains to be worthwhile for the community.
The outlet’s report went on to notice that former CBS Information president Wendy McMahon beforehand tasked Cheeks with making CBS Mornings extra interesting to center America. Thomas allegedly ignored the initiatives in favor of highlighting minority teams.
“[Thomas] didn’t do what she was instructed,” extra sources instructed the publication, additionally claiming that Thomas was not fired by McMahon as a result of she had the assist of King.
“In these instances, it’s a must to fireplace someone. Wendy McMahon was not sturdy sufficient. She wanted a head on a stick, however Shawna had the safety of Gayle King,” an nameless producer instructed the outlet. “Govt producers are the servants of the anchors. They don’t survive until they do what the anchors inform them.”
Extra insiders alleged that there’s “a ton of inner politics” on the community, telling the Submit, “The tradition at CBS Information prevents progress. There’s something simply ingrained in a spot that was as soon as so nice that they’ll’t fairly see the truth that to stay and be nice once more — no matter that appears like in 2025 and past — it requires doing issues in a different way.”
King, for her half, didn’t reply to the outlet’s request for remark.
CBS Mornings, Weekdays, 7a/6c, CBS