CBS anchor Scott Perry blows up network and parent company Paramount on Sunday over the resignation of former “60 Minutes” producer Bill Owens.
Owens resigned on Tuesday, citing the loss of independence reportedly. Perry made a similar comment on Sunday. Planned Merger Between Paramount and Skydance Media.
“Parent company Paramount is about to complete the merger. The Trump administration must approve it. Paramount has begun to oversee our content in a new way,” Perry said.
Perry also said that Paramount did not block the story superficially, but he insisted on it. “Bill felt that he had lost the independence needed for honest journalism.”
Pelley’s segment was sponsored by United Healthcare Medicare Plans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djo1axoyrci
“No one here is happy about it, but by resigning, Bill proved one thing. He was the right person to lead the ’60 minutes’ the whole time,” Perry concluded. (Related: Bill Belichick needs immediate intervention after the final piece of dignity is crushed in the air.)
Owens’ resignation came amid a legal battle between CBS and President Donald Trump. Trump sued the network for $10 billion, accusing it of a “deliberate deception,” and is said to have compiled an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris in favor of a few weeks before the 2024 election.
CBS and Paramount are also seeking approval for the Skydance merger, so they are trying to settle that lawsuit with Trump. According to To the New York Times (NYT).
Owens was the third executive producer in “60 minutes” history. He took over to his predecessor, Jeff Fagger in 2018 after the network fired the latter amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
The legacy of “60 Minutes” founder and former executive producer Don Hewitt is also plagued by accusations of fraud.
CBS agreed to pay one woman who accused Hewitt of fraudulent activities over $5 million. According to We quote a draft report from CBS investigators to NYT.
Investigators reported that “physical, administrative and cultural separation between the ’60 minutes’ and the rest of CBS News allowed ’60 minutes’ employees to commit fraud,” the Times reported.
Owens was replaced tentatively by executive editor Tanya Simon. According to To the New York Post.
