Embattled CBS Information boss Wendy McMahon was pushed out on Monday after lower than two years – together with a $20 billion lawsuit introduced by President Trump that has stalled dad or mum firm Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance Media.
McMahon, who was given the title of CEO of CBS Information, Stations, and CBS Media Ventures in 2023, has opposed settling the lawsuit over a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris within the warmth of the presidential marketing campaign that Trump alleges was deceptively edited to assist the previous vice chairman.
“It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward,” McMahon mentioned in a memo despatched to shell-shocked workers.
CBS CEO George Cheeks, one in every of three executives in cost as Paramount awaits approval of the merger from the FCC, mentioned McMahon had determined to “step down.” She is going to stay on the community for “a few weeks to support the transition,” he added.
McMahon, 51, provided a curt reply in her farewell observe.
“To George: Thank you for this opportunity.”
Cheeks requested McMahon to resign throughout a gathering on Saturday, folks aware of the matter instructed CNBC.
McMahon’s tenure was marred by her widely-panned overhaul of the night information, plummeting rankings at each the nightly newscast and the morning present, and inner turmoil over editorial requirements.
“This is not a surprise. It was just a question of when,” mentioned one individual aware of the matter. “It’s a bit late to stand up for journalism given what she’s done to CBS News — it’s not even the ratings, it’s the quality of the journalism.”
Paramount’s controlling shareholder Shari Redstone supported McMahon’s removing, a supply near the state of affairs instructed The Put up.
In current weeks, she has pushed to settle the bitter authorized battle as the 2 sides have gone into mediation – main longtime “60 Minutes” producer Invoice Owens to stop.
The media heiress and daughter of the late Sumner Redstone stands to make about $2 billion from the Skydance deal.
Skydance govt Jeff Shell had little confidence in McMahon’s capability to steer the newsroom ahead, sources mentioned.
“It makes sense for Wendy to exit now because the new management’s gonna come in and change everything,” one community insider instructed The Put up.
One other supply near CBS mentioned McMahon’s exit may additionally sign a breakthrough within the standoff with Trump.
“Wendy’s exit means the Trump lawsuit mediation must be moving quickly and a deal will be done,” the supply mentioned.
The Put up reached out to CBS, McMahon and Skydance for remark.
McMahon’s controversial strikes included booting “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell for a pair of relative unknowns, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, to helm the once-heralded program.
This system additionally needed to backtrack from a format change that sought to supply extra “60 Minutes”-like segments after it didn’t cowl main breaking information occasions.
Rankings for the last-place nightly newscast have solely gotten worse, falling under a median of 4 million viewers.
In the meantime, O’Donnell “overshadowed” the pair through the community’s protection of Pope Francis’ dying and election of Pope Leo XIV, as The Put up solely reported.
The rankings at “CBS Mornings” – anchored by Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burelson – have additionally been abysmal, attracting fewer than 2 million viewers to fall additional behind rivals “GMA” at ABC and NBC’s “Today” present.
Even worse, morale hit a brand new low after McMahon and prime editorial govt Adrienne Roark reprimanded Dokoupil for his pointed interview with writer Ta-Nehisi Coates in regards to the Israel-Hamas battle, prompting backlash over perceived threats to editorial independence.
Redstone additionally known as out McMahon for coming down on Dokoupil.
Roark, an in depth McMahon ally, introduced her personal resignation shortly earlier than McMahon’s ouster and is predicted to hitch TEGNA in a senior function.
“My understanding is that the whole news division is in disarray,” mentioned an individual near prime brass. “The ratings are terrible and there’s also a problem with the question of news judgment and fairness.”
In Cheeks’ memo, he mentioned that McMahon’s roles shall be taken over by Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell, who will every report on to him.
McMahon joined CBS Information as co-president with Neeraj Khemlani in 2021 earlier than gaining the additional duties following his ouster in 2023. Beforehand, she labored at ABC overseeing native TV stations and streaming property.
“This has been one of the most meaningful chapters in my career,” McMahon mentioned in her memo.
“Leading this extraordinary organization has been the honor of a lifetime because I got to work alongside all of you. Your commitment to truth, fairness and the highest standards is unassailable.”
