A merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media has caused major chaos for CBS programs. Stephen Colbert was fired from his long-running late-night talk show months before the merger went through. Morning news anchor Gayle King is reportedly next on the chopping block. The network is looking to replace her with a popular host of the Today Show. Keep reading for the latest on the shocking change.
Gayle King Out At CBS Amid Shakeups: Rumor Explained
Paramount Global owned a slew of networks, including CBS, MTV, and Paramount. Those networks are all under new ownership after a merger with Skydance Media. One of Paramount Skydance’s first acts of business was laying off thousands of employees, including many from CBS’s news division.
Longtime CBS Evening News anchor John Dickerson announced in October that he was leaving the network, effective in early 2026. The move came months after he publicly spoke out against the merger. His announcement made it seem as if it were his decision. But that’s allegedly not the case.
An insider spilled to Radar Online the truth about the shakeups at CBS. “Let’s be clear – he didn’t quit. He was pushed. That shows that NOBODY is safe,” the source said.
“People with big salaries and small ratings are going to be mercilessly cut – and Gayle fits the bill in both categories,” the behind-the-scenes source added.
As we previously reported, rumors began in October that the CBS Mornings host was done after her contract expires in May 2026. Gayle King said that the reports in the media were the first she’d heard of her departure. She admitted that her contract is up soon, but she hopes to stay at CBS.
![Gayle King [Source: YouTube]](https://tvshowsace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Gayle-King-Moves-From-CBS-To-CNN-For-12-Million.jpg)
New Morning News Showrunner Wooing Popular Today Host
According to Radar Online‘s source, ratings are the reason behind the shakeups at CBS. The network’s morning show constantly comes in third place behind NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America, which is reportedly undergoing changes of its own.
Bari Wess became the editor-in-chief of CBS News after the merger. “CBS is done accepting third place,” a source told Radar Online about the new editor-in-chief. “Bari wants a huge name who brings warmth, credibility – and viewers.” The source said that a former Today Show anchor “checks every box.”
CBS is reportedly wooing Hoda Kotb to take over Gayle King’s vacant spot on CBS Mornings. Hoda Kotb left the NBC news program in January 2025 to spend more time with her children and launch the wellness platform Joy 101. However, insiders claim the platform isn’t doing as well as expected and she misses morning television.
Replacing Gayle King would put Hoda Kotb front and center instead of competing with Savannah Guthrie or Jenna Bush Hager for screen time. “Bari is offering her the spotlight – and the kingdom that comes with it,” the source said.
Hoda Kotb is still under contract with NBC, but the source said it isn’t “ironclad.” The former Today Show host has yet to respond to rumors she’s making the move to CBS. Stay tuned for more on this developing story.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
