CBS Underscores Discontent with Biden-Harris by Courting Megyn Kelly
Rumors are circulating that CBS News might soon see a significant shake-up with a more conservative leaning personality taking center stage. Megyn Kelly, known for her firm conservative stand and previously associated with Fox News, is reportedly the chosen one for this revamp. CBS sees in her a key figure in augmenting the ratings of the network, with her knack for attracting a conservative audience and being a well-known face in the news industry.
In the green rooms of the network, the news is that CBS has offered several enticing options to Kelly. Either a much coveted prime-time slot or a chance to enhance the daytime viewership by joining CBS Mornings is on the table. No stone is being left unturned by CBS executives in their attempt to capitalize on Kelly’s uncanny ability to engage audiences and make headlines.
Megyn Kelly’s television hiatus, during which she concentrated on her popular podcast and SiriusXM collaboration, could be coming to an end. With her possible small screen return, CBS is hoping to solidify its credibility with different viewerships. It is the hope of many at CBS that Kelly might be the key to making their network relevant again in the dizzying world of 24-hour news cycles.
If Kelly steps onboard, the direction of CBS’s political coverage, the network’s identity, and their overall brand could experience a sudden tectonic shift. The dream scenario for CBS, which seems plucked straight out of a storybook, is to leverage Kelly’s networking and powerful brand, up through the crucial year of 2026.
The new dawn at CBS does have its casualties, though. Gayle King, considered a representative of a more left-leaning philosophy, could see her position becoming precarious. As CBS makes a palpable tilt towards conservative perspectives, King’s days as a mainstay of the network may be numbered.
Despite her best intentions, King’s attempt to rejuvenize CBS Mornings might have fallen flat. Observers have pointed out that the segment has been moving in a direction which increasingly conforms to ‘political correctness’ and entertainment narratives. With King at the helm, CBS Mornings took on what many labeled as a preachy and politically oriented style.
These changes from King have led some to label the segment as a ‘personal therapy hour’, sacrificing news for personal bias. Bringing in a like-minded team and persistently including her political viewpoints have led to a subsequent drop in viewer engagement. Critics argue that the shift in tone from news to an overreliance on politics and personal perspectives have turned away audiences.
Things are just as turbulent at the CBS News division. Its president, Tom Cibrowski, has been shaking things up in a big way as he prepares to remodel the Evening News broadcast. These changes might further the tilt towards a conservative point of view – something that might not sit well with all associated with the division.
In this whirlwind of changes, former anchor Norah O’Donnell seems to be planning a dramatic reentry into the CBS sphere, despite stepping away from the anchor desk earlier. Her intentions, however, may not align with the current direction that CBS is moving towards.
O’Donnell has remained with the network as a senior correspondent even after vacating her main role. Her contribution to shows like 60 Minutes signals her continuous engagement with the network. Yet, with everything else going on, her hopes for more responsibilities might be mere pipe dreams, according to some insiders.
The notable shift towards conservative ideals within CBS becomes even more newsworthy in the midst of a $20 billion lawsuit by former President Donald Trump against 60 Minutes. Trump gagged the flagship news program with the lawsuit, on the grounds that it had deceptively edited an interview with his electoral opponent Kamala Harris. CBS staunchly refuted this, releasing the complete transcript of the contentious interview to show no such deceit.
After Donald Trump embarked on his second term, his Federal Communications Commission chairman, Brendan Carr, announced an investigation of CBS on this matter. Trump did not stop there, insisting on a retraction and even pondering the revocation of the network’s broadcast license before his proposed merger.
Adding to the turmoil, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens decided to resign earlier this year. Citing his inability to produce the show as he these recent shifts, he left his position in a state of upheaval, marking another blow to the more liberal essence that once prevailed at CBS.
To conclude, the rumors and potential personnel changes at CBS depict a noteworthy shift in direction for the network towards more conservative perspectives. How audience members and news pundits will react to these shifts, and what impact these changes will have on CBS’s standing in the television news landscape, only time will tell.
