Paramount's Big Shake-Up: What It Means for CBS News & Your Screens

Get ready for some major changes across Paramount's empire! From thousands of layoffs to a massive overhaul at CBS News and beyond, new owner David Ellison is making waves. Here's a look at what's happening and how it could affect the shows and news you love.

TL;DR

• Paramount is laying off around 2,000 employees total, with about 1,000 already cut, impacting various divisions including CBS News.
• CBS News is undergoing a "radical revamp" with several streaming shows canceled and key anchors/producers leaving, including a big shake-up at CBS Saturday Morning.
• These changes are driven by a push for $2 billion in cost savings and new leadership's vision following the Paramount-Skydance merger.

A Seismic Shift at Paramount: Thousands of Layoffs

If you've been hearing whispers about big changes in Hollywood, they're definitely true for Paramount. Following the August merger with Skydance, new CEO David Ellison is on a mission to trim $2 billion in costs, and unfortunately, that means a lot of good people are losing their jobs. We're talking about roughly 2,000 employees being let go across the entire company, with about half of those cuts already implemented.

Ellison, in a memo to staff, described these steps as "necessary to position Paramount for long-term success," citing a need to address "redundancies" and "phasing out roles that are no longer aligned with our evolving priorities." It's a tough time for many, and the impact is being felt across multiple departments, from film production to news.

CBS News Undergoing a "Bloodbath" Overhaul

One of the most significantly impacted areas is CBS News. Staffers there have described the cuts as a "bloodbath," with around 100 employees affected. New CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and President Tom Cibrowski are leading a "radical revamp" that's reshaping how the network operates.

During an editorial call, Weiss acknowledged the difficult day, saying, "This is just an enormously difficult day for so many people that have given years of their lives to this company, and I’m sorry, and I want to support everyone in whatever way I can. My door is open."

Quote from Bari Weiss, CBS News Editor-in-Chief:

"This is just an enormously difficult day for so many people that have given years of their lives to this company, and I’m sorry, and I want to support everyone in whatever way I can. My door is open, whether I’m sitting up here or downstairs."

Major Changes to Your Morning and Evening News Routines

Several familiar shows are getting the ax or undergoing significant transformations:

• CBS Mornings Plus and CBS Evening News Plus Canceled: These streaming-only companion shows are gone, with their entire teams let go.
• CBS Saturday Morning Gets a Radical Revamp: After 28 years, the weekend staple is facing a format change. Co-anchors Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, along with executive producer Brian Applegate, have been informed they're leaving. The program will now be overseen by CBS Mornings Executive Producer Shawna Thomas, with much of the weekday staff pulling double duty. It's currently unclear who will host the new iteration.

The reasoning behind these particular cancellations is largely financial. Sources indicated that CBS Saturday Morning was deemed "too expensive," especially given its ratings had slipped 10% in total viewers and 20% in the key 25-54 demographic.

Global Bureaus and Specialty Units Also Hit Hard

The changes aren't just confined to the studio. CBS News is closing its Johannesburg, South Africa bureau, leading to the departure of senior foreign correspondent Deborah Patta. The Los Angeles bureau chief, Joelle Martinez, is also leaving.

Perhaps most notably, the Race and Culture Unit has been "gutted," losing eight of its nine employees, though its head, Alvin Patrick, remains. This comes amidst broader discussions about the network's editorial direction under new leadership.

High-Profile Departures Beyond the Cuts

Beyond the direct layoffs, several other prominent figures are exiting CBS News. John Dickerson, a long-serving and highly regarded journalist, announced he would be leaving his co-anchor role on CBS Evening News by the end of the year. Claudia Milne, the network's head of standards, also recently resigned.

Even in Paramount's film divisions, significant executives are departing, including Randy Spendlove (President of Worldwide Music), Bryan Oh (SVP of Production), and Geoff Stier (EVP of Production). These moves signal a broad restructuring across all facets of the company.

Bari Weiss's Vision and Controversies

Bari Weiss, who joined CBS News as Editor-in-Chief after Paramount Skydance acquired her "anti-woke" news and opinion site, The Free Press, for $150 million, is certainly making her mark. She's been tasked with bringing "balance" to what some perceive as a left-leaning "Tiffany Network."

Her tenure hasn't been without its controversies. Early on, she reportedly asked staffers to submit memos detailing their workdays, a request the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) advised its members to hold off on. She's also been actively trying to court high-profile talent like Fox News' Bret Baier and CNN's Anderson Cooper, though both have reportedly declined. Some staffers were also puzzled when Weiss suggested booking The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown to discuss a Louvre heist, seemingly confusing his work with The Thomas Crown Affair.

Beyond News: Taylor Sheridan's Exit and Warner Bros. Discovery Bids

The shifts at Paramount extend far beyond CBS News. One of the most "stunning" pieces of news was the departure of hitmaker Taylor Sheridan, the creative force behind Paramount+'s biggest hits like Yellowstone. Sheridan, who David Ellison once called "a singular genius with a perfect track record," moved to NBCUniversal with a reported $1 billion offer. Paramount notably never made a counter-offer.

Ellison has also been aggressively pursuing an acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with reported offers ranging from $19 to $23.50 per share. While WBD's board has rejected these bids so far, Ellison isn't giving up. A potential merger could combine CBS News with CNN, leading to even more massive changes in the media landscape.

These cuts and strategic maneuvers are all part of Ellison's plan to "clear the decks" before Paramount's third-quarter earnings call on November 10, setting a new course for the media giant.

What's Next for Paramount and Your Entertainment?

It's clear that Paramount is in the middle of a significant transformation. While thousands of employees are facing uncertainty, the new leadership is betting on these bold moves to secure the company's future and streamline its operations. For viewers, this means keeping an eye on how these changes manifest in the content we consume, from the morning news to blockbuster films and streaming series.

The goal is to create a "strong, future-focused company," but the path there is certainly bumpy. We'll be keeping you updated as more details emerge about this evolving media empire.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions About Paramount's Shake-Up Is CBS Saturday Morning completely canceled? The program is not completely canceled but is undergoing a "radical revamp" with a format change. The current co-anchors (Michelle Miller, Dana Jacobson) and executive producer (Brian Applegate) are leaving, and the show will be overseen by the CBS Mornings executive producer. Why are there so many layoffs at Paramount? The layoffs are part of a broader strategy by new owner David Ellison and Paramount Skydance to achieve $2 billion in cost savings following their merger in August. Some shows, like CBS Saturday Morning, were reportedly deemed "too expensive" and had declining ratings. Which CBS streaming shows were canceled? CBS Mornings Plus and CBS Evening News Plus have both been canceled. What is Bari Weiss's role at CBS News? Bari Weiss is the new Editor-in-Chief of CBS News. She was brought in after Paramount Skydance acquired her "anti-woke" news site, The Free Press, and is tasked with reshaping the network's editorial direction, aiming for more "balance." Sources

• Yahoo News (Article with Entertainment listing and CBS Saturday Morning news)
• The Hollywood Reporter (Article by James Hibberd, Oct 31, 2025)
• TheWrap (Article about CBS News layoffs, Oct 30, 2025)
• New York Post (Article about CBS Saturday Morning, unspecified date, likely Oct 30, 2025)
• CBS News (Article about Paramount layoffs, unspecified date, likely Oct 30, 2025)
• Deadline (Article by Anthony D'Alessandro, Oct 29, 2025)
• The Guardian (Article about CBS News layoffs, Oct 30, 2025)
• Puck (Article about Paramount's Eye Strain, Oct 30, 2025)
• The Independent (Article about CBS News layoffs and Bari Weiss, unspecified date, likely Oct 30, 2025)