Gail King’s Role at CBS in Question Amid Ownership Change
A veteran of morning television believes that Gail King has “lost much of her leverage,” especially now that “CBS Mornings” is in third place and facing an ownership change. Recently, the FCC approved an $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, which is set to close soon. This deal means Skydance CEO David Ellison will take the reins of CBS, including its struggling news division.
Insiders speculate that Ellison, who was seen with former President Donald Trump at a recent UFC event, plans to shift CBS News away from its liberal reputation. His team is already talking about appointing an ombudsman to oversee news content, hinting at changes ahead as Skydance leaves its mark on the network.
With these developments, attention has turned to King’s position with “CBS Mornings,” a show that’s struggled against competitors like NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s “Good Morning America.” The show averaged about 1.9 million viewers from the beginning of the year until late July, a drop from 2.2 million in the same period last year. While other morning shows also lost viewers, their declines weren’t as sharp as CBS’s.
King’s future with the show remains murky. Her numbers are slipping, and some industry experts believe she has significantly diminished bargaining power. After participating in a Blue Origin spaceflight, which was criticized for its environmental impact and perceived frivolity, CBS’s audience faced a further decline—down 5% since her space trip.
The ownership transition has stoked speculation about whether King will remain with the network when her contract expires in 2026. A long-time producer recently remarked, “Gail is the only CBS News employee making eight figures, but the slipping numbers mean she has lost much of her leverage.”
Additionally, King’s reputation has taken hits from various fronts. Critics have pointed out her high-profile lifestyle, including a vacation with the Obamas, which some saw as compromising CBS’s credibility. Recently, her association with celebrity culture, like being photographed in extravagant settings, hasn’t helped to boost “CBS Mornings.”
Meanwhile, changes within CBS are becoming apparent, driven by new leadership that is refocusing content towards underrepresented areas. Staffers say there’s an effort to tell stories that resonate with everyday people, not just urban narratives.
Next month, “CBS Mornings” will be relocating from Times Square back to the CBS Broadcasting Center, with many wondering about other upcoming shifts and what they might mean for the show’s direction. As of now, CBS News hasn’t provided any comment on these changes.
