Gayle King's CBS Mornings Future: What's Really Happening Amid Network Shake-Up?

Whispers are flying about Gayle King's potential departure from CBS Mornings as the network undergoes a massive leadership and strategic overhaul. We're breaking down what's true, what's rumored, and what it all means for your morning routine.

TL;DR

• Reports suggest Gayle King might step down as a co-anchor from CBS Mornings next year, though she could stay with CBS News in a different role.
• CBS News, now under new owner David Ellison and Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, is undergoing significant changes, including layoffs and show cancellations, aimed at appealing to a broader, more conservative audience.
• King's contract is officially stated to run through May 2026, and she, along with CBS, says no discussions about her future have taken place yet, contradicting some reports.

Is Gayle King Really Leaving CBS Mornings After More Than a Decade of Service?

Okay, deep breaths, everyone! The news world is abuzz with reports that our beloved Gayle King, a familiar face on morning TV for over a decade, might be stepping away from her anchor chair at Cbs Mornings next year. But before you start panic-stocking coffee and tissues, let's unpack what's actually being said.

Reports from outlets like Variety dropped earlier this week, suggesting that King, who’s been co-hosting the morning show since 2012 (that’s 14 years in the morning TV game, folks!), is "expected to depart" her anchoring duties. The good news for Gayle fans? These reports often add that she might stick around CBS News in a new capacity, perhaps even producing her own content. Think less "goodbye," more "see you around the network!"

However, it's not a done deal, and there’s a bit of a tug-of-war happening in the headlines. A spokesperson for CBS News has publicly stated there have been "no discussions" with King about her contract, which they specify runs through May 2026. They also emphasized that "She’s a truly valued part of CBS and we look forward to engaging with her about the future."

"All I’ve been told by everybody in this building is that they want me here, they like the job I’m doing, I like the job I’m doing! What I’m hearing in the building is not what I’m reading in the press. And what I’m not gonna do is negotiate in the media. Not doing that!"

— Gayle King to TMZ, October 31, 2025

King herself, at 70 years old, weighed in on Friday, telling TMZ she had "no idea" what the future holds for the show's direction but was happy with her current role and what she’s hearing directly from CBS. So, while the media chatter is intense, it seems the official word is that discussions about her future are still on the horizon, not a done deal.

Understanding the Sweeping Changes Rocking CBS News Under New Leadership

Regardless of Gayle King's ultimate decision, one thing is crystal clear: CBS News is currently undergoing a massive transformation, and it's sending ripples across the entire network. This isn't just a few tweaks here and there; we're talking about a full-blown overhaul following the FCC-approved formation of the new parent company, Paramount Skydance.

At the helm of this new era are two key figures: 42-year-old David Ellison, the son of billionaire Larry Ellison, who is the new owner, and Bari Weiss, 41, a digital entrepreneur and founder of the conservative opinion site The Free Press, who has been appointed as the new Editor-in-Chief of CBS News. Their stated goal? To pivot CBS News toward a "more conservative audience" and away from content they feel has a liberal tilt. Ellison mentioned in a staff memo that these steps are "necessary to position Paramount for long-term success" by "addressing redundancies" and "phasing out roles that are no longer aligned with our evolving priorities."

A Wave of High-Profile Departures and Program Cancellations Across the Network

The impact of this new direction is already being felt far and wide. We've seen dozens of layoffs at CBS News, part of a larger cut of around 1,000 jobs across Paramount. And it’s not just behind-the-scenes staff; several prominent on-air personalities and entire shows are also affected.

Key Departures and Cancellations So Far:

• John Dickerson: The 57-year-old co-anchor of CBS Evening News announced his departure from the network at year's end after 16 years. Dickerson previously criticized Paramount for a $16 million payment to Donald Trump's presidential library, raising questions about media accountability.
• CBS Saturday Morning: This show has been completely revamped, with co-hosts Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, along with executive producer Brian Applegate, reportedly fired.
• Streaming Shows Axed: Both CBS Evening News Plus and CBS Mornings Plus, the network's streaming counterparts, have been canceled.
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: In a surprising move, the signature late-night program is slated to end in May (likely 2026), ahead of Paramount's official sale to Skydance Media.
• Other Talent: Lisa Ling and Nikki Battiste are among other well-known staffers confirmed to be leaving. Norah O’Donnell, previously an anchor for CBS Evening News, also transitioned to a senior correspondent role earlier this year.

These changes reflect a strategic shift, but they also come with human costs, causing significant "uncertainty and unease" within the news division, as one CBS source put it. Co-host Nate Burleson even commented on Instagram, "I hope this rumor doesn't hold up," regarding King's potential departure, calling her "a fixture, a force, and a part of the fabric of 'CBS Mornings.'"

Who Might Be Joining the New CBS News Lineup in the Coming Months?

With several high-profile exits, speculation is naturally swirling about who might step into these newly vacant or soon-to-be-vacant roles, particularly for the evening news. Bari Weiss is reportedly eyeing a few names to shape the network's new image.

• Bret Baier: The 55-year-old Fox News anchor has been reportedly considered to lead the evening news program. However, Baier himself has publicly stated he's in a multi-year contract with Fox through 2028 and is "very happy" there, downplaying any immediate move on Meghan McCain's podcast.
• Scott Jennings: Another name circulating as a potential successor to John Dickerson is 48-year-old Scott Jennings, a reliably pro-Trump CNN commentator and former George W. Bush administration staffer.

These rumored targets certainly align with the stated goal of appealing to a more conservative audience, signaling a clear direction for the network’s future content and on-air presence.

The Persistent Morning Show Ratings Battle and Why Audience Trust Matters Immensely

For years, CBS Mornings has consistently lagged behind its rivals, Good Morning America (ABC) and Today (NBC), in the ratings game. For the five days ending October 24, CBS Mornings pulled in an average of just 1.8 million viewers, while ABC's and NBC's morning shows garnered around 2.71 million and 2.69 million respectively. Ouch.

This long-standing struggle is a big part of why new management is eager to shake things up. However, as media experts and even past network blunders have shown, changing morning show hosts is a risky business. Morning TV thrives on the deep, personal relationships viewers build with their anchors. If audiences perceive that a beloved figure like Gayle King is being pushed out without good reason, they might just switch channels entirely, potentially flocking to rivals who offer a sense of stability and familiarity. NBC News learned this lesson twice with Deborah Norville in 1989 and Ann Curry in 2012, both leading to audience disenchantment.

CBS has seen its share of morning show iterations over the years, with King remaining a central fixture through many co-host changes alongside Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson. Her ability to handle intense interviews, like the viral R. Kelly segment in 2019 where she kept her composure as he shouted, and her broader appeal (even traveling to space on a Blue Origin flight with an all-female astronaut crew earlier this year!) have made her a unique asset. Her close friendship with Oprah Winfrey has also brought a certain cachet to the network, and she even helped run Winfrey's magazine for a time.

Despite her reported $10-15 million per year salary, King has not managed to give CBS the significant ratings lift it has long sought, which likely fuels the desire for new strategies from the new ownership.

The Road Ahead: A New Chapter for the Iconic CBS News Brand

The changes at CBS News are significant, driven by a new corporate vision and the economic realities of a changing media landscape where viewers are increasingly turning to streaming and social media for news. This shift is seeing traditional news outlets parting ways with veteran anchors or moving them into new, potentially less visible, roles. CNN's Chris Wallace and Alisyn Camerota, and Fox News' Neil Cavuto are recent examples of veterans leaving their employers.

While the full picture of Gayle King's future, and indeed the future of CBS News, is still unfolding, it's clear we're watching a major media entity redefine itself. It’s an ambitious and potentially polarizing move by Paramount Skydance and Bari Weiss, one that will be closely watched by industry insiders and everyday viewers alike. Will their gamble pay off in higher ratings and a new audience demographic? Only time will tell, but for now, the conversation around the water cooler (or on social media) is definitely heating up.

Frequently Asked Questions About Current CBS News Changes When is Gayle King's contract with CBS News set to expire? According to a CBS News spokesperson, Gayle King's current contract runs through May 2026. Who is the new Editor-in-Chief of CBS News and what is their vision? Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, was appointed Editor-in-Chief of CBS News in October 2025. Her vision, alongside new owner David Ellison, is to pivot the network to appeal to a more conservative audience. Why is CBS News undergoing so many significant changes? The changes are due to new ownership under Paramount Skydance (David Ellison) and a strategic shift to appeal to a broader, more conservative audience, along with modernizing content delivery in a changing media landscape and addressing financial "redundancies." What other major shows or anchors have been affected by the recent CBS overhaul? John Dickerson is departing CBS Evening News, CBS Saturday Morning co-hosts Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson were fired, and streaming shows like CBS Evening News Plus and CBS Mornings Plus have been canceled. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is also slated to end in May (likely 2026). Sources

• The Daily Beast
• Variety
• Deadline
• The Hollywood Reporter
• Fox News Digital
• Page Six
• The Independent
• CNN