The last location, CBS Morning Show, is abandoning the cutting edge Times Square Studio. This will cost millions of dollars to build.
“CBS Mornings” – co-sponsored by Gale King, Nate Burleson and Tony Doc Files – returns to their filthy former home at the CBS Broadcasting Center on West 57th Avenue from Lux Dig on 1515 Broadway.
“It's all about saving money,” said Network Insider. “This is another example of how they don't compete. It goes back in time.”
According to Nielsen, the struggling morning show has seen its weekly ratings lower last week since it rebooted on September 20, 2021.
The move, scheduled for September, comes as CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon cuts costs as part of the larger mission of the company's pro-Paramount Global, to cut $500 million from its budget ahead of a desired merger with SkyDance Media.
Sources posted that “CBS Mornings” shares a small studio with “CBS Evening News.” This was recently overhauled after the broadcast from DC returned from DC following the exit of anchor Norah O'Donnell.
McMahon's work is rumoured to stand on the line as shell-shocked staff lose faith in her leadership, another well-placed source told the Post.
“The atmosphere on CBS News is one of the horrors,” the source said. “No one can open his mouth because he's afraid of losing his job.”
CBS News declined to comment.
Tiffany Network rented Times Square Space, which once hosted the long-term MTV program “TRL,” from Paramount Global, previously known as Viacomcbs.
Another source speculated that Paramount could rent a “CBS Mornings” studio to another tenant, or there would be a broader strategy to slim down the real estate footprint before new owners enter.
Sharing cramped spaces with the crew of “Evening News” brings unique challenges despite recent upgrades to pessimistic studios such as LED floors.
“The studio is much smaller. There's no couch space when the morning show hosts interview A-listers,” One source said.
When the morning show was moved to 2021, newly appointed co-chairmen of CBS News Neerajkemurani and McMahon promoted the studio's cutting-edge storytelling capabilities to the media.
“The new studio at the heart of Times Square brings a wealth of new opportunities for high quality production and will change our appearance without changing our commitment to impactful news in the morning,” he said. Trade PublicationsNewsCastStudio at that time. “
However, the move immediately attracted the wrath of the King and other staff as the window overlooking Times Square was covered. This prevented street spectators from gawing live broadcasts, as previously reported.
Instead, the anchor is in front of a large LED screen that projects a manufactured view of Times Square.
One thing Anchor doesn't miss about Times Square Studios is that it leads to the frustration that he has to stop the heat overnight and arrive at the freezer set early in the morning.
Since moving to 1515 Broadway, the network has undergone a series of layoffs and leadership changes, including being banished in 2023 and McMahon being promoted to president and CEO.
Under her leadership, the network prioritizes leaning towards local news stations for some of its reports in order to centralize the news department and significantly reduce costs.
However, her decision to replace O'Donnell with John Dickerson and Maurice Duboise has been an assessment disaster so far.
