Gayle King is staying put at CBS News. The veteran journalist has renewed her contract with the network amid a period of significant change for both CBS and the broader media landscape, a spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.
“I’m excited about continuing at ‘CBS Mornings.’ As always, I’m open to new adventures here and ready to go,” King said in a statement.
The renewal secures a key figure for CBS News as the network navigates a major overhaul of its morning show programming and a potential future merger. The news comes as the television industry continues to grapple with evolving viewership habits and the rise of streaming.
CBS News, a unit of Paramount, has recently installed new leadership, with editor-in-chief Bari Weiss working to revitalize “CBS Mornings,” which currently trails its competitors in ratings, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Adding another layer of complexity, Paramount has reached a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, including CNN, potentially leading to a merger between CNN and CBS News down the line.
Paramount is currently seeking regulatory approval for the deal, with hopes of finalizing it in the third quarter of this year.
Last fall, shortly after Weiss joined CBS News, Variety reported speculation about King’s future on “CBS Mornings,” the program she’s anchored since 2012.
The publication suggested she “was expected to depart” the show and “may shift to a different role at the news division,” potentially producing her own programming for the network.
CBS disputed those reports at the time. And on Wednesday, King playfully addressed the rumors, stating, “Rumors of my demise were inaccurate and greatly exaggerated.”
“CBS News is my longtime home,” King added, “and I am committed to our mission.”
Weiss celebrated the news by sharing King’s quote on X. She also told the Wall Street Journal that King and CBS will collaborate on “new, enterprising projects that bring her talents to new audiences.”
King co-hosts the weekday morning show with Nate Burleson, alongside featured host Vladimir Duthiers and other CBS journalists.
Tony Dokoupil, another “CBS Mornings” colleague, recently transitioned to evenings as the new anchor of the “CBS Evening News.”
CBS News president Tom Cibrowski said Wednesday that King and Burleson “are fantastic partners on the show and morning TV is more vibrant than ever. We are excited to continue to evolve ‘CBS Mornings’ and can’t wait for what’s to come.”
