CBS Crisis: Chaos-Hit Network Headed for 'Brutal' Makeover From New Owners After Tumbling From News 'Glory Days'
CBS faces a ‘brutal’ overhaul from new owners as the chaos-hit network falls from its news glory days.
Oct. 29 2024, Published 8:30 a.m. ET
Struggling CBS News is about to get an extreme makeover from new owners after tumbling from the glory days of legendary newscasters like Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite to an also-ran in the broadcast network ratings, industry sources told RadarOnline.com.
The failure of costly talent to attract eyeballs, poor reviews, and the division's constant position as the third horse in a three-horse race behind ABC and NBC news shows could lead to a bloodbath at the once-vaunted Tiffany network, those insiders predicted.
Struggling CBS News is about to get an extreme makeover from new owners after tumbling from the glory days of legendary newscasters like Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite.
The FCC has been reviewing a request from Skydance Productions to purchase, "strengthen and revitalize" CBS – and sources said that means sweeping changes in the news division.
An insider exclusively told RadarOnline.com: "The place has been in freefall for years, and if the sale goes through, there's no way the new owners will settle for status quo."
Sources said, the $28 billion deal to buy CBS's parent company, Paramount, from the Redstone family is due to close in the spring.
The $28 billion deal to buy CBS's parent company, Paramount, from the Redstone family is due to close in the spring, and sources said Skydance CEO David Ellison and his father – Oracle founder Larry Ellison – are set to "blow the place up."
The news division has suffered multiple humiliations, as our readers know.
Jeff Glor, who was named anchor of ‘CBS Evening News’ in 2017, was replaced by Norah O’Donnell.
In 2017, Jeff Glor was named anchor of CBS Evening News.
He was replaced by equally unpopular Norah O'Donnell — at a whopping $8 million a year.
O'Donnell was forced to take a more than $4 million cut in salary, but she's still slated to be dumped, a source confirmed.
- Norah O'Donnell On The Brink Of Being Fired As Anchor Of 'CBS Evening News' Due To Poor Ratings
- CBS Catfight: Gayle King and Norah O'Donnell 'Stabbing Each Other in The Back' in Desperate Grab for Power at News Network
- CBS News Boss Who Feuded With Norah O'Donnell Facing Internal Review, Subject Of Months-Long HR Probe After 'Micromanaging' Complaints
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The show recently came under fire when cohost Tony Dokoupil was publicly ‘reprimanded’ by woke execs for the way he questioned a pro-Palestinian author.
Meanwhile, $11 million newscaster Gayle King's CBS Mornings continues to badly trail rival breakfast shows Good Morning America and Today in the ratings.
The show recently came under fire when cohost Tony Dokoupil was publicly "reprimanded" by woke executives for the way he questioned a pro-Palestinian author.
Gayle King's ‘CBS Mornings’ continues to badly trail rival breakfast shows ‘Good Morning America’ and ‘Today’ in the ratings.
The knee-jerk rebuke drew backlash from viewers and fellow on-air journalists.
Current network owner Shari Redstone tried to smooth things over by declaring, "I frankly think Tony did a great job with that interview.
"He showed that there was accountability, that there is a system of checks and balances, and frankly, I was very proud of I the work that he did."
‘CBS Mornings’ is the network’s daily news and information program.
The mixed messages were yet another embarrassing sign of discombobulation at the news division, industry insiders said.
Said the source: "Morale is at the bottom. Everybody knows their jobs are on the line. If this purchase goes through and there's no reason it shouldn't- there's going to be a massive fire sale in the news division."
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