Overview

• Nielsen figures show CBS Mornings has slipped below 2 million viewers and shed 20–30% of its key 25–54 demographic in recent weeks.
• King’s current deal pays her $13–15 million per year and runs through May 2026, and insiders say Skydance may not offer her a comparable contract renewal.
• Executive producer Shawna Thomas resisted leadership directives to scale back ‘woke’ and DEI-focused segments that critics say alienated mainstream audiences.
• The FCC-cleared $8.4 billion Skydance takeover of Paramount includes commitments to end DEI programs and curb perceived left-wing bias at CBS News.
• President Trump declared on Truth Social that “Gayle King’s career is over,” amplifying political pressure on CBS’s morning programming strategy.