There are internal concerns at CBS News regarding its persistently low ratings and the potential impact of the Skydance Media acquisition led by David Ellison.
According to Dylan Byers, a senior correspondent at Puck News, CBS News insiders are grappling with the network’s struggle to attract viewers, with one source bluntly stating, “It’s still a last-place network. No one watches Evening News. No one watches the morning show…”
This sentiment reflects the broader anxiety within the organization about its declining viewership, particularly for flagship programs like CBS Evening News and CBS Mornings, which trail competitors like ABC and NBC in ratings.
The changes, outlined in FCC filings, are seen as concessions to secure regulatory approval amid pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and the Trump administration, particularly following a $16 million settlement over a Trump lawsuit regarding a 60 Minutes interview.
Byers’ reporting highlights that while the media industry debates the editorial and free speech implications of these shifts—such as the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and potential ideological realignments—CBS News staff are more preoccupied with a practical question: how will the Skydance-Ellison regime address the network’s dwindling audience?
Insiders’ concerns, as reported by Byers, center on whether Ellison’s leadership can revitalize these programs. Ellison’s focus has historically been on Skydance’s film and TV production.