Gayle King Isn’t Leaving CBS Yet, Here’s Why She’s Sticking Around

It’s been a whirlwind time at CBS lately, with rumors swirling about shakeups, departures, and a possible fresh start under new ownership.

But despite all the noise, one familiar face is holding steady: Gayle King.

The veteran journalist and beloved co-host of CBS Mornings is not packing her bags anytime soon.

Though the network has seen better days, King appears to be staying put, at least for now.

Let’s break down what’s really going on with Gayle King, her future at CBS, and what it could mean for the morning show.

A Contract Extension and a Pay Cut

Gayle King, who has been with CBS for more than a decade, has signed a contract extension that keeps her on the air through next summer. That news alone should quiet down a lot of the speculation. But there’s more to the story.

She reportedly agreed to a pay cut, going from a $13 million salary to $10 million. While that’s still a major paycheck, it reflects the uncertain state of CBS and its ratings challenges. But insiders say the money isn’t the main issue here.

“I bet she stays, even if she gets a pay cut,” a TV source told Page Six. “People assume incorrectly that the money is the deciding factor. When in reality, a pay cut doesn’t mean that much when you are making that kind of money.”

The decision to stay appears to be strategic. King wants to see how things shake out with the possible $8.4 billion merger between Paramount, CBS’s parent company, and Skydance Media.

Things Are Rocky Behind the Scenes

There’s no denying CBS has been facing rough waters. Ratings for CBS Mornings have been in decline, and the network is scrambling to find its footing in a very competitive media landscape.

Earlier this month, CBS News boss Wendy McMahon stepped down. She had tried to breathe new life into CBS Mornings and CBS Evening News with a new anchor lineup and fresh format, but the results just didn’t stick.

“It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward,” McMahon wrote in a memo to her staff.

Since her departure, CBS News President Tom Cibrowski has been left to stabilize the situation and figure out what’s next.

An industry insider put it bluntly: “As much as it’s over there, it’s good for her to wait and see what happens with the merger, with new people, if they can get their act together.”

There’s hope that new ownership might bring fresh ideas and energy. “The folks at Skydance have very specific ideas about how they can revitalize the news side of things, so there is reason for Gayle to hang around,” the insider added.

The Ratings Reality

There’s no sugarcoating it, CBS Mornings is in third place, and it’s not close. For the week of May 19, Good Morning America had 2.6 million viewers, Today had 2.5 million, and CBS Mornings trailed with just two million.

Even more concerning is the drop in the key 25-54 demographic, where CBS has seen a 30 percent decline, the steepest among the big three networks. Overall viewership is also down by nine percent compared to last year.

Some industry voices say King’s salary is hard to justify given these numbers. But her presence on the show still holds major value, especially with an election cycle on the horizon.

“It’s a very useful platform for Gayle,” one insider explained. “[I think] she would certainly want to continue through the midterm [elections in November 2026].”

A Glimmer of Optimism

Despite all the behind-the-scenes tension and viewer drop-off, Gayle King seems to be in good spirits.

Just this week, she was seen out at Chelsea Piers in New York City, attending the launch of her friend Hoda Kotb’s new wellness brand, Joy 101.

She was joined by familiar faces from Today, including Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager, Craig Melvin, and Dylan Dreyer.

That public appearance, full of smiles and camaraderie, suggests that King isn’t letting the pressure get to her, at least not outwardly.

And CBS isn’t ready to let her go either. A spokesperson for the network told The Post: “Gayle is an incredibly valuable member of the CBS News family. She has no plans to go anywhere and we couldn’t be happier about that.”

What the Future Holds

CBS News has been on shaky ground for a while. Some trace the downward spiral back to 2019, when Jeff Glor left Evening News. Ratings have struggled ever since, and the recent turmoil only added fuel to the fire.

To complicate matters, Paramount is currently involved in mediation with lawyers for former President Donald Trump.

He filed a $20 billion lawsuit against 60 Minutes, alleging the show “deceptively edited” an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris to make her look better. Reports now suggest Paramount has offered $15 million to settle.

So with all this chaos, why stay? For Gayle King, it might be about legacy, timing, and strategy.

The 2026 midterm elections are coming up, and CBS still offers a massive platform to shape the national conversation.

And if the merger with Skydance brings new life to the network, she may find herself right where she wants to be, at the center of it all.

For now, we’ll take her cue and “wait and see what happens.”

TL;DR

• Gayle King is staying at CBS for now, having signed a contract extension through next summer.
• She accepted a pay cut from $13 million to $10 million.
• Her decision to stay is influenced by the pending $8.4 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance Media.
• CBS is currently facing internal turmoil, including the recent departure of News boss Wendy McMahon due to disagreements over network direction.
• CBS Mornings, co-hosted by King, is struggling in the ratings, coming in third behind GMA and Today.
• The show has experienced a 9% drop in total viewers and a 30% decline in the 25–54 demographic since 2024.
• Insiders say King is waiting to see if new ownership can improve things and is likely to stay through the 2026 midterm elections.
• CBS maintains that Gayle King is a valued part of the team and has no plans to leave.
• Paramount is also dealing with a $20 billion lawsuit from Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes segment, and the company has entered mediation, although no settlement details have been publicly confirmed.
• Despite the challenges, King appears upbeat and was recently seen socializing with fellow media personalities at a New York City event.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.