Gayle King to Step Down as Anchor of ‘CBS Mornings’ Amid Ratings Challenges and Network Shift
NEW YORK – gayle King is expected to depart her role as anchor of “CBS Mornings,” according to sources, as CBS News navigates lagging ratings in the competitive morning news landscape and a broader strategic shift toward digital distribution. The move comes as Paramount Skydance executives seek to revitalize the network’s morning programming and appeal to a wider audience.
King has been a fixture of morning television for 14 years, beginning with “CBS This Morning” in January 2012 after initially joining CBS News in November 2011. She anchored the program alongside Charlie Rose and norah O’Donnell, and later with Anthony Mason and Tony Dokoupil, and then Dokoupil and Nate Burleson. The show rebranded as “CBS Mornings” following Rose’s departure after allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied.
Despite King’s long tenure and several format changes,”CBS Mornings” has consistently trailed its rivals. Data from Nielsen shows the program averaged 1.8 million viewers during the five days ended October 24, compared to 2.71 million for ABC’s “Good Morning America” and 2.69 million for NBC’s “Today.”
King’s departure is part of a larger trend within the television news industry. As viewership shifts to streaming and social media, networks are reassessing the roles of veteran anchors, often moving them to positions with less frequent on-air presence. CBS’ Norah O’Donnell, NBC News’ Hoda kotb and Andrea Mitchell, and Fox News’ Steve Doocy are among those who have recently transitioned to new roles. CNN’s Chris Wallace and Alisyn Camerota, and Fox News’ Neil Cavuto have left their news employers in the past year.NBC News and CNN have also implemented cuts and restructuring as they adapt to new digital models.
Throughout her career, King has been known for impactful interviews, including a widely-discussed 2019 conversation with R. Kelly, during which the singer-producer became visibly agitated and denied allegations of child sexual abuse. More recently, she traveled to space on a blue Origin flight earlier this year, joining an all-female crew that included Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez.
King has also fostered a strong relationship between CBS News and Oprah Winfrey, a longtime friend and former colleague. She previously worked with Winfrey at her magazine published by Hearst, balancing her morning show duties with full days dedicated to magazine work.
The network has not yet announced a replacement for King, nor a timeline for her departure.
