Gayle King is standing at a major crossroads at CBS News, as her staggering $15 million salary has become the center of internal debate within the network’s upper ranks. Once one of the most celebrated anchors in morning television, King now finds herself in a precarious position as CBS prepares for sweeping structural changes under its new leadership — led by David Ellison, the new owner through Skydance Media, and Bari Weiss, the recently appointed editor-in-chief. What was once a source of pride — her lucrative contract and star power — has now become a symbol of the tensions between prestige, profit, and programming.
According to multiple reports, including Status and The New York Post, the network is quietly weighing options that could fundamentally reshape CBS’s on-air lineup. Two of King’s colleagues — Norah O’Donnell and Tony Dokoupil — are reportedly being considered for major promotions that could displace her or at least reduce her influence within the network. “O’Donnell could return to CBS Mornings, particularly as Gayle King’s massive paycheck may become difficult to justify in the Ellison era,” wrote media reporter Oliver Darcy in his Status newsletter. Insiders describe the atmosphere inside CBS as tense but calculated — a network in transition, carefully deciding who stays and who goes as the Ellison-Weiss era begins.
The discussions come amid significant cost-cutting measures and a broader attempt to “rebrand” CBS News after years of declining ratings. Under Ellison and Weiss, the network’s leadership reportedly wants to prioritize leaner budgets, wider appeal, and a shift away from what executives see as “overly progressive” programming. Weiss, known for her centrist and often contrarian approach to journalism, is said to be focused on restoring CBS’s reputation as a space for “substance and balance.” As one insider told The Daily Mail, “The new regime is trying to make CBS relevant to the center again — and that means rethinking who’s telling the story in the morning.”
For Gayle King, 70, that reassessment has been a bitter pill. After signing her latest multi-year extension in 2024, estimated between $13 million and $15 million, King became one of the highest-paid anchors in network television. Her contract runs through May 2026, but sources say there’s growing reluctance from CBS’s new executives to renew it at anything close to the same rate. “Skydance is a different animal,” a former CBS producer told The Post. “They’re watching every dollar, and Gayle’s salary — once a statement of power — is now seen as excess.”
Compounding her challenges is a wave of criticism over the editorial direction of CBS Mornings. Insiders claim that both King and her executive producer, Shawna Thomas, have clashed with previous management over what they describe as “ultra-progressive content.” Thomas, who has championed diversity and bold storytelling, reportedly ignored repeated instructions to “tone it down.” Sources said her refusal to pivot away from identity-driven coverage — including segments featuring drag artists, activists, and nontraditional cultural voices — alienated more moderate viewers. “The show stopped being a place for everyone,” one executive said. “And the ratings show that.”
Indeed, ratings for CBS Mornings have slumped over the past year, falling further behind Good Morning America and Today. Some insiders claim that viewers have grown weary of the show’s political undertones. Others argue that King, once seen as the heart of the program, has struggled to maintain her connection with audiences amid shifting tastes and a fragmented media landscape. The network’s leadership reportedly views her emphasis on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) as noble but commercially risky — particularly at a time when advertisers and executives are clamoring for broader appeal.
Meanwhile, Norah O’Donnell, who was quietly removed from CBS Evening News last year, is being courted for a return to CBS Mornings. Sources say Weiss has already met with O’Donnell and sees her as a strong candidate for renewed prominence, either on mornings or potentially back on Evening News, which has languished under co-anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois. “Norah and Tony [Dokoupil] have both survived multiple shake-ups,” a network insider told Status. “They see this leadership change as their chance to climb higher.”
Dokoupil, who weathered controversy after a tense on-air exchange with author Ta-Nehisi Coates, is also rumored to be in line for a promotion. His profile has grown in recent months as he’s emerged as the steady, likable counterpart to King’s more outspoken persona. “He’s the one execs point to as the future — polished, adaptable, and less polarizing,” one source said.
For King, the developments mark a dramatic turn. Just two years ago, she was the crown jewel of CBS’s morning programming — a trusted voice who helped stabilize the brand after years of turbulence. Now, as the network tightens budgets and redefines its identity, her contract has become a symbol of excess and her editorial influence a source of division. Even her longtime producer, Shawna Thomas, is said to be under review, with rumors swirling that she could be replaced if she continues resisting network directives.
The situation mirrors a broader trend across legacy media — where networks are trimming high-profile salaries and pushing out expensive veterans in favor of cheaper, younger talent. The recent cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, whose own $15 million contract ends next May, underscores just how serious the belt-tightening has become.
Pressure, power, and money have now converged behind the scenes at CBS in a delicate balancing act between image and survival. For Gayle King, the woman who helped redefine morning television, the question is no longer whether she can command attention — but whether she can justify the cost. What once symbolized her unrivaled influence has turned into a heavy burden, and her powerful position now teeters on the edge of an unpredictable upheaval.
