Gayle King, a prominent figure on CBS News’ morning show for over a decade, is likely to leave her position as anchor next year. Sources familiar with the situation say she may take on a new role as the network revamps its news division.
King’s current contract runs until May, but there are indications that CBS would prefer to keep her around. There is talk of a potential deal for her to produce programming for the network. Similarly, Norah O’Donnell shifted focus earlier this year from anchoring the “CBS Evening News” to take on a senior correspondent role, covering a variety of topics across different platforms.
The timing of these negotiations coincides with a period of significant layoffs at CBS News, as Paramount reorganizes. The network has experienced quite a turnover, with King rumored to be the latest in a series of high-profile departures. This intention to pivot away from what some current leadership perceives as a heavy liberal bias is reflected in the earlier hiring of Bari Weiss as editor in chief.
CBS News’ response to an inquiry regarding King stated, “We have had no discussions regarding a contract that extends to May 2026. Gayle is a valued part of our team, and we look forward to our future discussions.” King’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, CBS has made broad changes, including canceling “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” which is set to conclude in May. The company has also parted ways with several prominent staff, including co-anchors of the Saturday morning show. This restructuring indicates a clear shift happening within CBS as it prepares for what’s next.
Making the transition away from King could be a tricky move. Morning television thrives on host-viewer relationships; if the audience feels she was unfairly let go, they may quickly switch to competitors like NBC’s “Today” or ABC’s “Good Morning America.” This is not the first time NBC has faced audience backlash when another host is kicked to the curb.
Over the past decade, CBS’s morning programs have often ended up in third place behind NBC and ABC. Currently, “CBS Mornings” draws an average of around 1.8 million viewers, while “Good Morning America” and “Today” each reach nearly 2.7 million viewers. With new leadership at Paramount, there’s hope that a refreshed direction could attract more viewers nationwide.
Gayle joined CBS back in November 2011 and has since become an essential voice in morning television, shifting formats and co-hosts but maintaining her star power.
In an era when traditional media is facing challenges due to the rise of streaming and social media, many well-known anchors are now being nudged towards lesser roles within their networks while keeping their contracts alive. High-profile cases take place everywhere—from O’Donnell at CBS to impressive names at NBC and Fox News.
King has made several impactful strides during her tenure, gaining widespread attention for her notable interviews, such as the tense exchange with musician R. Kelly. Earlier in the year, King made headlines for being part of Blue Origin’s all-female crew that journeyed to space.
Additionally, she’s cultivated a strong relationship with Oprah Winfrey, having once helped manage her magazine before resuming her morning duties.
This story was contributed by Selome Hailu.
