CBS News concerned about potential moves by Skydance

CBS News under new scrutiny from Skydance ownership

CBS News staff members are expressing growing concerns about potential changes following Skydance Media’s completed acquisition of Paramount Global. The merger has created uncertainty about the future direction of one of America’s most storied news organizations.

Journalists within the division are particularly worried about maintaining editorial independence while navigating new ownership priorities. These concerns have intensified as reports emerge about planned organizational restructuring and cost-cutting measures.

Skydance promises significant changes to CBS operations

New Paramount CEO David Ellison has signaled his intention to implement substantial reforms across CBS properties, particularly targeting perceived editorial concerns.

The company has made formal commitments to federal regulators about ensuring balanced reporting and viewpoint diversity.

These changes represent part of a broader strategy to address what the new ownership views as trust issues with traditional broadcast journalism. Ellison has expressed his desire to create programming that appeals to Americans across the political spectrum.

Staff anxiety builds over potential workplace transformations

Three sources familiar with CBS News operations confirm that employees are experiencing heightened anxiety about upcoming changes. The uncertainty stems from both the merger completion and signals about operational modifications from the new leadership team.

Workers are closely monitoring developments while continuing their regular news operations during this transitional period. The atmosphere reflects broader concerns about maintaining journalistic standards while adapting to new corporate priorities.

Layoff fears emerge as Skydance targets $2 billion in cost reductions

Skydance executives have confirmed plans to proceed with previously announced cost-cutting
measures totaling $2 billion across the company. Jeff Shell, the new president of Skydance,
indicated these reductions would be detailed in the November quarterly investor report.

The cuts are attributed to declining traditional advertising and distribution revenue as viewers
shift to streaming platforms. Industry analysts suggest that achieving such substantial savings
would likely require significant workforce reductions.

CBS Evening News faces format uncertainty amid ratings decline

The CBS Evening News program has experienced a notable 24 percent drop in key demographics since implementing a new dual-anchor format earlier this year.

John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois replaced longtime anchor Norah O’Donnell in January with a magazine-style approach.

Executives are now considering adjustments to the struggling format, including having anchors
report from major breaking news events. The show’s ratings performance has consistently trailed behind ABC’s World News Tonight and NBC’s Nightly News.

Ombudsman appointment raises editorial independence questions

Skydance has committed to installing an ombudsman at CBS News for at least two years to
review complaints about editorial bias. This position will report directly to the president of the
newly formed company, creating what critics describe as unprecedented oversight.

CBS insiders have expressed concern about this “hall monitor” approach to news operations,
questioning whether it represents confidence in the news division. The ombudsman role has
sparked debate about potential government influence on journalism.

Federal regulators approve merger with specific CBS conditions

The Federal Communications Commission approved the Paramount-Skydance merger after the
companies made specific commitments about CBS News operations. FCC Chairman Brendan
Carr welcomed the deal, citing promises for “significant changes” at the broadcast network.

The approval came with conditions including the ombudsman appointment and pledges to
eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Carr emphasized that Americans “no longer
trust the legacy national news media” and called for change.

Trump lawsuit settlement creates internal CBS News tensions

Paramount agreed to pay President Trump $16 million to settle his lawsuit over a 60 Minutes
interview with Kamala Harris that aired last October. The settlement resolved Trump’s claims that
CBS deceptively edited the interview to favor the Democratic candidate.

The resolution led to the departure of several CBS News executives, including longtime 60
Minutes executive producer Bill Owens and network head Wendy McMahon. Internal staff
expressed frustration about the settlement, viewing it as compromising journalistic integrity.

Diversity initiatives face elimination under new ownership

Skydance has formally committed to discontinuing all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs
previously implemented at Paramount. The company stated it “does not have DEI programs in
place today and will not establish such initiatives”.

This change aligns with broader conservative policy objectives during the current political
climate. The elimination of DEI programs represents a significant shift in corporate culture and
hiring practices across Paramount properties

Executive leadership changes signal newsroom restructuring

CBS News is undergoing significant leadership transitions, with Tom Cibrowski taking on expanded responsibilities following Wendy McMahon’s departure. The changes come as the network seeks to address declining viewership and ratings challenges.

Evening News executive producer Guy Campanile is returning to 60 Minutes, while veteran producer Kim Harvey is mentioned as a possible replacement. These moves reflect broader efforts to stabilize news operations during the ownership transition.

Political pressure influences editorial decision-making processes

Senator Adam Schiff has questioned the FCC about its approval of the merger, expressing concerns about political influence on press independence. His letter highlighted worries that the commission has become “a tool for President Trump to seek personal vengeance”.

The timing of the settlement payment and subsequent merger approval has raised questions about potential connections between the two events. Critics argue that the $16 million payment may violate federal bribery regulations.

Viewership challenges compound operational uncertainties

CBS Evening News has lost viewers since implementing its new format, dropping from 5.2 million to 4.5 million within three weeks. The show’s performance contrasts sharply with ABC and NBC evening programs, which have shown growth.

Network executives acknowledge the ratings decline but maintain commitment to their long-term strategy. However, sources suggest that continued poor performance may force additional format modifications

Staff concerns about maintaining journalistic independence persist

CBS News employees worry that the ombudsman position could undermine traditional editorial
autonomy within the newsroom. The role’s reporting structure to company executives rather
than newsroom leadership has raised questions about editorial control.

New management has attempted to reassure staff that the ombudsman serves as “a transparency vehicle, not an oversight vehicle.” However, uncertainty remains about how complaints and investigations will affect daily news operations.

Cost-cutting measures target traditional television operations

Jeff Shell acknowledged that substantial layoffs are necessary but promised they would occur “quickly” rather than in quarterly waves. The new president emphasized that linear television faces ongoing challenges requiring operational adjustments.

The company plans to inject $1.5 billion in cash to reduce debt while implementing the cost reduction strategy. This approach aims to stabilize Paramount’s financial position while competing with streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon.

New ownership seeks broader audience appeal strategy

David Ellison has expressed his vision for CBS News to appeal to “70% of Americans” positioned
between center-left and center-right viewpoints. This strategy deliberately excludes more extreme partisan perspectives while seeking broader market appeal.

The approach reflects Ellison’s stated goal of creating programming that both Democratic and Republican family members can watch together. This positioning represents a significant shift from traditional network news audience targeting.

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Industry observers question editorial integrity implications

Media analysts have expressed concern about the precedent set by settling Trump’s lawsuit and accepting oversight conditions. Critics argue these moves could encourage similar pressure tactics against news organizations.

The combination of financial settlements, ombudsman oversight, and DEI elimination has created
what some describe as a “chilling effect” on editorial independence. Professional journalism organizations continue monitoring the situation’s broader industry implications.

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Do you think CBS News should be worried about Skydance’s plans? Comment your take below.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and with human editing.