Gayle King is reportedly displeased with potential changes to the CBS Mornings broadcast that could include the addition of a new co-host, according to media reports.
The potential overhaul comes as the program faces declining ratings, with the week of July 13 seeing its lowest viewership on record, averaging 1.59 million viewers. This marked the first time the show fell below the 1.6 million mark and represented a 13% decrease from the previous year.
Norah O'Donnell, who previously co-hosted the show with King from 2012 to 2019, is reportedly being considered for a return to the morning program. A source cited by The New York Post indicated that King was "not happy" with this possibility and "does not want Norah to return to the show." The same source described King and O'Donnell's past working relationship as "frenemies."
O'Donnell's career appears to be on an upward trajectory under new CBS News leadership. She was recently promoted to a correspondent for 60 Minutes and hosts a women's podcast for CBS News. Until January, she served as the anchor of the CBS Evening News.
CBS News President Tom Cibrowski is reportedly seeking to make the morning show "more loose," potentially modeling it after broadcasts like "Morning Joe," which blend current events with opinion. King currently co-hosts CBS Mornings with Nate Burleson, but the network is understood to be looking to add a third anchor.
Sources indicated that King was pivotal to the process of selecting a new co-host and that any significant changes would require her approval. The new co-host could be announced as early as next month, with changes potentially being phased in starting in September.
Beyond O'Donnell, other journalists are reportedly in contention for the anchor role, including Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Kelly O'Grady, and Eva Pilgrim. O'Grady is currently a co-host of CBS Saturday Morning.
