‘It’s become clear that the company and I do not – Business News
Embattled CBS News boss Wendy McMahon was pushed out on Monday after much less than two years – together with a $20 billion lawsuit introduced by President Trump that has stalled father or mother company Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance Media.
McMahon, who was given the title of CEO of CBS News, Stations, and CBS Media Ventures in 2023, has opposed settling the lawsuit over a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris in the heat of the presidential marketing campaign that Trump alleges was deceptively edited to assist the former vice president.
“It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward,” McMahon stated in a memo despatched to shell-shocked workers.
Wendy McMahon resigned from her place as CEO of CBS. Getty Images fo Anti-Defamation League
CBS CEO George Cheeks, one of three executives in charge as Paramount awaits approval of the merger from the FCC, stated McMahon had determined to “step down.” She will stay at 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 during a assembly on Saturday, people aware of the matter advised 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 show, and inner turmoil over editorial requirements.
“This is not a surprise. It was just a question of when,” stated one particular person 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 elimination, a source close to the scenario advised The Post.
In latest weeks, she has pushed to settle the bitter legal battle as the two sides have gone into mediation – main longtime “60 Minutes” producer Bill Owens to give up.
The media heiress and daughter of the late Sumner Redstone stands to make about $2 billion from the Skydance deal.
People stroll by the CBS Broadcast Center on 57th Street in New York. AP
Skydance government Jeff Shell had little confidence in McMahon’s skill to steer the newsroom ahead, sources stated.
“It makes sense for Wendy to exit now because the new management’s gonna come in and change everything,” one community insider advised The Post.
Another source close to CBS stated McMahon’s exit can also signal a breakthrough in the standoff with Trump.
Presidents and co-heads of CBS News Neeraj Khemlani (left) and Wendy McMahon attend the Hollywood Reporter’s annual Most Powerful People in Media difficulty celebration at the Pool on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
“Wendy’s exit means the Trump lawsuit mediation must be moving quickly and a deal will be done,” the source stated.
The Post 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.
The program additionally needed to backtrack from a format change that sought to offer more “60 Minutes”-like segments after it did not cowl main breaking information occasions.
Wendy McMahon introduced her resignation on Monday, May 19, 2025. CBS through Getty Images
Ratings for the last-place nightly newscast have solely gotten worse, falling under an average of 4 million viewers.
Meanwhile, O’Donnell “overshadowed” the pair during the community’s protection of Pope Francis’ death and election of Pope Leo XIV, as The Post completely 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” show.
The Paramount building at 1515 Broadway in New York, NY. Christopher Sadowski
Even worse, morale hit a new low after McMahon and prime editorial government Adrienne Roark reprimanded Dokoupil for his pointed interview with creator Ta-Nehisi Coates about the Israel-Hamas battle, prompting backlash over perceived threats to editorial independence.
Redstone additionally known as out McMahon for coming down on Dokoupil.
Roark, a close McMahon ally, introduced her own resignation shortly earlier than McMahon’s ouster and is anticipated to affix TEGNA in a senior position.
“My understanding is that the whole news division is in disarray,” stated a particular person close to prime brass. “The ratings are terrible and there’s also a problem with the question of news judgment and fairness.”
In Cheeks’ memo, he stated 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 News as co-president with Neeraj Khemlani in 2021 earlier than gaining the further obligations following his ouster in 2023. Previously, she labored at ABC overseeing native TV stations and streaming property.
“This has been one of the most meaningful chapters in my career,” McMahon stated 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.”
