‘CBS Mornings’ Ratings Shocker After Scott Pelley Firing
What To Know
- CBS Mornings experienced a significant ratings drop following Scott Pelley’s firing from 60 Minutes.
- The firing came amid upheaval at CBS News, including the dismissal of several 60 Minutes producers and correspondents.
- Although ratings slightly rebounded after the initial plunge, CBS Mornings is still on track for its worst-rated June ever.
The behind-the-scenes drama at CBS News, including the recent upheaval at 60 Minutes, seems to have had a huge negative impact on the network’s ratings, particularly CBS Mornings.
According to Oliver Darcy’s Status newsletter, CBS Mornings “hemorrhaged viewers” the day after Scott Pelley was unceremoniously fired from 60 Minutes. The report, citing Nielsen figures, also stated that the morning show is on track for its worst-rated June ever.
Last month, CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss fired 60 Minutes producers Tanya Simon and Draggan Mihailovich and correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi. This was followed by veteran reporter Pelley being terminated after he confronted the show’s new producer, Nick Bilton, about Weiss’ changes.
Pelley spoke out against the changes and Weiss’ handling of CBS News during a heated staff meeting, during which he said Weiss was “murdering” 60 Minutes and told Bilton he had “slender qualifications” for the job. The next day, Bilton sent a termination letter to Pelley, noting that he’d been fired “for cause, effective immediately.”
Per Nielsen numbers, CBS Mornings averaged 1.8 million total viewers and 313,000 viewers in the key 25-54 demographic the day Pelley was fired, and dropped to an average of 1.59 million total viewers and 225,000 demo viewers in the days following the firing. That’s an 11 percent drop in total viewers and a 28 percent drop in the key demo.
Darcy said that the numbers “alarmed some officials” at CBS News, but noted the ratings improved in the following days. “Any apparent viewer protest over Pelley’s firing may have been short-lived,” Darcy stated, adding that Weiss’ team is “still presiding over some of the worst ratings in the program’s history.”
CBS Mornings, hosted by Gayle King and Nate Burleson, recorded its worst-rated May on record and is on pace to record its worst-rated June on record, averaging just 1.7 million total viewers and 275,000 demo viewers.
Network executive sources told Darcy, “Once those viewers are gone, it is very difficult to win them back.”
Conversation40 Comments
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S
I choose not to watch CBS at all due to Stephen and Scott. I also canceled my Paramount Plus. I hope the entire network goes under.
48
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M
I'm sorry Gayle, Vlad and Nate but I too have stopped tuning in.
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F
It’s gonna drop more special with Stephen Colbert also gone everybody that I know is boycotting!
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R
Everyone I know? That is how social structures work. People associate with other people who share similar perspectives. If course everyone you know is upset. For me, even before Weiss and Paramount, Pelley was a narrow narcissist with his own agenda that meant only one Outlook was tolerable at 60 minutes. Pelley not Weiss destroyed z0 minutes. He will never be Wallace, Safer or Bradley. He is a petty punk.
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M
I have always been a CBS watcher but totally boycotting CBS now.
39
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B
#BoycottCBS
39
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B
I’ve sworn off all things CBS after the firing of Scott Pelley & selling out to Donald Trump for $16M.
I’m ABC & CNN network loyal now.
I hope your finances go into the Red for decades to come CBS.
38
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L
I believe it was wrong to fire Scott Pelley from '60 Minutes. He's a veteran reporter that did his reporting extremely well. He always would question those being interviewed to get to the truth when Mr. Pulley knew that some of the persons ' answers were not the whole truth, but exaggeration away from the real truth! He was firm, but respectful, always. He just wanted the truth to be told the way it was supposed to happen, not half-truths, and false intentions! He will be sadly m8ssed, and people will continue to prosecute Scott Pelley for being a person who wanted the truth from the people he interviewed; not lies and false allegations! Shame On Them!! As far as CBS MORNINGS, I have always been a dedicated and loyal watcher of CBS MORNINGS, and I always will be! Shame on BARI WEISS, maybe YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE WHO GETS FIRED FOR MAKING YOUR EMPLOYEES FEEL MISERABLE BY GIVING THEM THE BOOT!! What goes around, comes around, BARI WEISS!
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M
The 60-Minutes CECOT story disaster proved beyond any doubt the new CBS ownership had put in place a management team more than willing to follow them in bowing down to the Orange Jesus instead of continuing the long followed and highly respected integrity expected from CBS News: I purposely started avoiding CBS once this segment aired pretty much in tact (soon after being abruptly pulled) because the ulterior motive of their move was laid bare for the entire world to see.
25
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L
I avoid this station no matter what!
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S
You get what you give!!
19
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L
I have stopped watching all CBS news-related programming. I will miss CBS Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes most of all, but I will survive.
16
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U
I will no longer watch CBS. Firing Stephen Colbert to censor him will not be tolerated. The firing of the Sixty Minutes veteran staff put the final nails in CBS. This is not a short lived drop in viewership, it's permanent.
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R
It is tolerated lol
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B
What is CBS? I think that they used to be a television network with a respected news division, but that was long ago
12
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D
I have stopped watching any news related programs on CBS. They no longer have my trust. Their decisions are politically motivated instead of being motivated by the truth.
10
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B
I started boycotting when they fired Stephen Colbert!! I now will continue my boycott because I watched 60 minutes for many years. I loved the honest trust worthy news. Now I feel it's turning into another dishonest news like Fox. Because of that I also stopped watching CBS morning, sorry Gayle and Nate ( also loved Tony ) . I've just boycotted CBS and Paramount Plus because they continue to take a knee to line their pockets over honesty
Well, they won't get richer off of me anymore. Only one way they will, stop bending your knees and start going back to honesty and caring about what your viewers want.
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2
How could you fire Mr.Pelley. He a very important person when it comes to 60 minutes
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T
CBS is no longer a reputable source of news, so why is anyone surprised?
8
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J
I couldn't be happier! 💃
8
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T
Apparently CBS hasn’t considered the loss that’s being accumulated.
After 25 years I no longer watch Saturday Morning, changes are just awful and bleak! Sunday morning is no longer in our viewing life either and now 60 minutes is off the air for us! We valiantly try to watch the evening news with Tony D. to help him out. CBS is dead for us! Paramount + is also on its death bed.
7
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D
I will no longer watch any CBS news programming including the Morning Show, Sunday morning and 60 minutes. I believe in freedom of the press not news that is controlled by Trump. Fire Bari Weiss!!!!!
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J
I love Gayle & CBS Mornings (and CBS Sunday Morning) , but sorry screw CBS Magafied. They'll have to rely on the Fox crowd now. Better aligned. They don't care about real journalism .Good Night & Good Luck MF'ers. Thanks David Letterman!
7
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J
Down with CBS, no longer interested since the hack new manager took over.
7
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M
Who's watching CBS anyway? Between shows like Matlock, George & Mandy's First Marriage, and Ghosts, I can't see how CBS has ANY viewers at all.
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S
I am finished with CBS! I can not support anything anti-democracy!
7
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D
I refuse to watch the PGA on CBS Sports. I'm glad that NBC is covering some of the tournaments now.
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T
I stopped watching CBS several months ago. I dislike their new leader and wrong direction.
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C
Oprah bought Gayle Kings spot. Gayle King is a disaster but Oprah keeps funding Gayle’s job regardless of poor ratings.
4
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M
I stopped watching Anything with CBS including local.
4
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D
No one watches Main Street media anymore. They are just filled with lies. Another arm of the Democratic radical communist party. You deserve these horrible ratings.
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W
I like fair, unbiased reporting and content so I have started watching CBS.
3
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D
Good riddance to Stephen and Scott.
Now, I can watch CBS again.
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K
lol, well…since infowars is gone you have to watch something I guess. Besides cartoons ,I mean.
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D
Revamp the morning show. Get rid of the current host Gayle and Nate and get some decent people in there. You lost me when you got rid of the Saturday morning crew....
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A
I still watch "The CBS Evening News with Tony Dulopil" on Fridays because of Steve Hartman. I'll still watch "Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage" as well as "Ghosts", "Elsbeth", and "NCIS" there but not anything else on the network.
1
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M
When u bend the rules that news reporters, are taught, and build trust from their viewers. For a favor or political reasons, that Reporter ,Comedian or TV program . That trust in the program leadership is gone. I respect our Freedom of Speach and freedom of the press to report as Truthful as possible. But when higher powers want to steer away from the truth, cause they don't want to step on any ones feelings, I don't need or want them in my life. American's have been lied too long enough. GET RID OF BAD LEADERSHIP. this world has been turned upside down. ENOUGH !!
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L
I used to watch CBS morning show every Sunday and 60 Minutes and the 630p news, I stopped watching
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H
How sad........to let a show be destroyed not because there formate was bad
, or the people on the screen were no longer doing there jobs, instead you Roseanne them into the unemployment line, Never mind what happens to them or there families your so proud. What happened to the Land of the Free? BTW I love to break this to both side Fox has not been considered a Republican sided Station in years lol.............I do want to say every time you acuplish getting ppl fired and taking down a show, I'm talking to both sides here, you chip a way at what built our Country and made it the Strongest. Nation in the world. Instead of attacking me,think about what I said. They can't destroy us from the outside so they will from within. Peace my Brothers and Sisters
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B
My husband refuses to watch CBS now & i am currently not watching much of anything on CBS news section except the Sunday MORNING Show. CBS is making a terrible mistake by taking off well loved, seasoned news shows that held real content, good stories with great presentations to cater to a whole new demographic. As a former college journalism major we were often told CBS had the best news shows & coverage. Why do you want to blow your reputation to hell now?
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