The atmosphere at CBS News has become tense as employees brace themselves for potential layoffs and upcoming shifts to programming. According to sources close to the news division, these changes have raised concerns among staff, especially as the company navigates broader uncertainties within the industry.
Layoffs Loom as Skydance Implements Cost-Cutting Measures
The potential layoffs stem from Skydance’s decision to proceed with a $2 billion cost-cutting initiative. This move was announced earlier this year amidst declining advertising revenues and ongoing shifts towards streaming technology. Jeff Shell, Skydance’s newly appointed president, confirmed that updates on the financial reductions are expected to surface during the company’s next quarterly investor report in November.
The changes could have widespread implications for CBS News employees, especially as the division grapples with the realities of an evolving media consumer landscape.
“CBS Evening News” Eyes Another Format Overhaul
“CBS Evening News,” which has faced declining ratings, may also undergo significant format changes. Over the years, the program has experimented with variations in its approach, including a focus on feature and enterprise reporting. However, critics argue the show’s deviations have come at the expense of breaking news coverage, a key driver for evening broadcast audiences.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that CBS could implement a new strategy where one of the primary anchors – John Dickerson or Maurice DuBois – will report directly from on-the-ground events. For instance, Dickerson was notably present in Alaska last week as President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing Ukraine crisis. This approach may help balance real-time coverage with the studio setup, offering a dual-layered approach to major breaking stories.
Internal Shifts With Prominent Leadership Stir Speculation
The future of “CBS Evening News” is also drawing attention due to a leadership reshuffle. Guy Campanile, the show’s current executive producer, is leaving to rejoin “60 Minutes.” Kimberly Harvey, a seasoned producer with a résumé that features work with outlets like CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC, is rumored to be a strong contender for stepping into the empty seat behind the scenes.
“CBS Evening News” has faced challenges turning its feature-heavy focus into sustained viewership. Despite drawing inspiration from the investigative style of programs like “60 Minutes,” ratings have yet to rebound. In the week ending August 4th, the show averaged 3.74 million viewers, trailing ABC’s “World News Tonight” with 6.89 million and NBC’s “NBC Nightly News” with 5.35 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings.
Whether this upcoming reboot will regain lost momentum remains to be seen, but past efforts to capture audiences with unconventional formats have so far fallen short. CBS executives are tasked with finding a balance that keeps both storytelling and hard news at the forefront.
Follow Variety for ongoing updates as this story unfolds.