By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-21 01:11:35 | Updated at 2025-03-28 01:05:59
1 week ago
CBS Mornings is leaving its prized Times Square studio amid ongoing cost cutting efforts and plummeting ratings.
The last-placed morning show spent big just four years ago to build the state-of-the-art studio, which reportedly cost tens of millions of dollars.
But now CBS Mornings, which is hosted by Gayle King, Nate Burleson and Tony Dokoupil, is having to pack up and move home to the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street, NY Post reported.
'It's all about saving money,' an insider said. 'This is another example of them not competing. It's going back in time.'
The move is reportedly slated for September and comes as CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon makes efforts to slash $500million from the network's budget.
As part of the move, CBS Mornings will now share a studio with CBS Evening News.
'The studio is much smaller. There's no space for couches for when the morning show hosts interview A-listers,' the source said.
It is unclear if Paramount will be seeking to rent out the studio, which is in a prime location, or if there is a broader goal to slim down its real estate portfolio entirely.
CBS Mornings is leaving its prized Times Square studio amid ongoing cost cutting efforts and plummeting ratings
The last-placed morning show spent big just four years ago to build the state-of-the-art studio, which reportedly cost tens of millions of dollars
Last week, it posted the lowest result it's had since the show was relauched in September 2021, with just 1.87million total views for the seven-day period
The morning show has been plagued by ratings issues for months - a long running theme at the network currently as it grapples with on-air departures and a lawsuit with President Trump.
But last week, it posted the lowest result it's had since the show was relauched in September 2021, with just 1.87million total views for the seven-day period.
Year on year, CBS Mornings is down six per cent in overall viewership.
The ratings crisis was partly brought on by its new 'Evening News' format, former executives and producers have said.
It is unclear if Paramount will be seeking to rent out the Times Square studio (pictured), which is in a prime location, or if there is a broader goal to slim down its real estate portfolio entirely
Now CBS Mornings, which is hosted by Gayle King , Nate Burleson and Tony Dokoupil, is having to pack up and move home to the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street
'It's a disaster,' a former CBS News exec told DailyMail.com of the new dual-anchor set-up they framed as 'going to two anchors.'
Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson have replaced longtime host Norah O'Donnell, leading to a more magazine-style, less headline-driven format.
'It's been critically panned, ratings down week by week and from this time last year,' the source added.
Last week, Lonnie Quinn, CBS News New York's chief weatherman said he'd be stepping away from his anchoring duties for several weeks following some surprising side effects due to a concussion from earlier this year.
