Wendy McMahon Resigns as Head of CBS News: 'Company and I Do Not Agree on the Path Forward'
'It's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward,' McMahon said in a memo to staff on Monday. 'It's time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership. I have spent the last few months shoring up our businesses and making sure the right leaders are in place; and I have no doubt they will continue to set the standard.'
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Has '60 Minutes' Run Out of Time? Shari Redstone's Painful Predicament
'60 Minutes' Addresses EP Bill Owens' Departure in On-Air Segment: "Paramount Began to Supervise Our Content in New Ways"
CBS News Pushes Into Video Podcasts With '48 Hours: Post Mortem' (Exclusive)
Here is McMahon's full memo:
Hi everyone,Today, I am stepping down from my position as president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures.
This has been one of the most meaningful chapters in my career. 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.
Championing and supporting the journalism produced by the most amazing stations and bureaus in the world, celebrating the successes of our shows and our brands, elevating our stories and our people … It has been a privilege and joy.
At the same time, the past few months have been challenging. It's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward. It's time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership.
I have spent the last few months shoring up our businesses and making sure the right leaders are in place; and I have no doubt they will continue to set the standard.
You are in incredibly good hands with Tom, Jennifer, John, Matt and Robert. They are phenomenal leaders and people who will continue to protect and celebrate your work. I am sure of it.
To George: Thank you for this opportunity.
To our viewers: Thank you for your trust. You hold us accountable, and you remind us why this work matters.
To the CBS News and Stations and CMV teams: Thank you for your passion, your professionalism and your partnership. It has been a privilege to walk this path with you.Wendy
That 'George' there refers to George Cheeks, one of the three Paramount Global CEOs. Here is his own email sent to staff:
CBS Team,Moments ago, Wendy McMahon announced her decision to step down as president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures (CMV). Below is the email she shared with her teams.
Going forward, CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell will each report directly to me. For CMV, Scott Trupchak, who heads advertising sales, and John Budkins, who oversees programming and production, will report to Bryon Rubin, CBS' chief operating officer and CFO. Wendy will be with us for a few weeks to support the transition.
On a personal note, I want to thank Wendy for her partnership over the past four years. Under her leadership, the competitive position and culture at our television stations have improved dramatically, and we've expanded local news significantly. Our streaming news platforms – national and local – are stronger and growing, with digital extensions now in place for several of our flagship CBS News broadcasts.
In a rapidly changing world, Wendy and her teams have worked diligently to articulate a vision and lay a foundation that adapts our news operations for the future. This includes advancements in data journalism, community journalism, technology and centralizing editorial decisions to help teams move faster.
Please join me in thanking Wendy for all these contributions and wishing her much success in what she does next.George
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started
Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023
Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
John Oliver speaks out about 'sad' Stephen Colbert 'Late Show' cancellation
John Oliver isn't happy about the end of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." The "Last Week Tonight" host, 48, spoke out about the cancellation of his fellow "Daily Show" alum's late-night program in a conversation with reporters at an Erie Moon Mammoths baseball game in Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 19, per The Associated Press. "It's very sad," he said. "Obviously, I love Stephen, I love his staff, I love that show. It's incredibly sad. I am partly excited to see what they're going to do for the next 10 months, but yeah, it's terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy." Oliver added that late-night shows "mean a lot to me," noting he used to watch Colbert's predecessor, David Letterman, when he was growing up in England. "I look forward to seeing what he's going to do next because that man will not stop," he added of Colbert. Jimmy Kimmel irate over Colbert cancellation, criticizes CBS ending 'Late Show' Colbert announced that CBS is canceling "The Late Show," which he has hosted since 2015, in an episode that aired on Thursday, July 17. In a message to viewers, the comedian noted that he is not being replaced as host and that the network is simply retiring the late-night franchise. "This is all just going away," he said. Colbert will continue hosting "The Late Show" until May 2026. The announcement sparked shock and confusion, as well as questions about the timing. The cancellation news came just days after Colbert criticized CBS parent company Paramount Global for a settlement with President Donald Trump over a defamation lawsuit related to a "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris. Colbert called the settlement a "big fat bribe." Writer's union calls for investigation into CBS axing Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' But in a statement, Paramount described the end of the "Late Show" as "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night," adding that it "is not related in any way to the show's performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount." Jamie Lee Curtis on Colbert cancellation: 'They're trying to silence people' Jamie Lee Curtis also spoke out about the cancellation of Colbert's show during an appearance at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards in Los Angeles. "It's bad," the Oscar-winning "Halloween" star told Variety. "I'm excited that I will get to be on his show in about two weeks. I've never been on his show. I really like him. He's smart and funny and a lovely human. It's awful." Curtis also told The Associated Press, "They're trying to silence people, but that won't work. We will just get louder." Colbert's fellow late-night hosts previously weighed in on the shock news. In an Instagram story, Jimmy Kimmel slammed CBS "and all your Sheldons" over the decision and sent love to Colbert. Jimmy Fallon also said on Instagram that he was "as shocked as everyone." "Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it," Fallon said. "I really thought I'd ride this out with him for years to come." The Writers' Guild of America, meanwhile, has called for an investigation into the decision, saying in a statement, "Cancelations are part of the business, but a corporation terminating a show in bad faith due to explicit or implicit political pressure is dangerous and unacceptable in a democratic society." Contributing: Bryan Alexander
The Hill
7 hours ago
- The Hill
Oliver, Stewart mourn CBS cancellation of Colbert
Jon Stewart and Jon Oliver, two of the biggest names in current events-focused comedy, expressed dismay at the decision by CBS to cancel 'Late Night' with Stephen Colbert. 'It's terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy,' Oliver said during a recent event in Erie, Pa., adding that he is 'partly excited to see' what Colbert and the show's staff 'do over the next 10 months.' CBS announced last week it was canceling Colbert's show, calling the move a 'financial' decision and saying 'Late Night' would conclude at the end of its current broadcast season. The news came just days after CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by President Trump over a '60 Minutes' interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Colbert has for years been sharply critical of Trump, often mocking the president and his allies. During a recent podcast episode, Stewart, a prominent Trump critic, was asked if he was worried about his future at Comedy Central, which Paramount also owns. 'I'd like to think we bring enough value to the property,' he said. 'Like if they're looking at it as purely a real estate transaction. But I don't know. They may sell the whole f—— place for parts.' Paramount is trying to secure a mega merger with fellow entertainment giant Skydance, a multi-billion dollar deal that will need approval from Trump administration regulators to clear. The president has repeatedly railed against major media companies with news divisions he feels do not cover him fairly, and top officials at the FCC have suggested certain outlets face federal investigation.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
South Park's season 27 premiere delayed amid "shitshow" Paramount merger
Paramount's pending merger with Skydance is the biggest story in the media business right now, which really means it's a little part of a lot of different stories. Today, Paramount settled its ongoing dispute with Donald Trump over 60 Minutes for $16 million, clearing the way for potential FCC approval of the critical deal. Now, South Park's season 27 premiere has been delayed. And, wouldn't you know it, it's also due to the 'shitshow' merger that's 'fucking up South Park,' in the words of its creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. But hey, at least the board is probably having a pretty good day. There are a whole lot of messy dealings behind Parker and Stone's statement. In 2019, Paramount sold the lucrative streaming rights to South Park, which it co-owns with Parker and Stone's South Park Digital Studios, to Warner Bros. Discovery. Then it decided it wanted them back for Paramount+, kicking off a whole clusterfuck of negotiations. A significant recent update came last week, when Parker and Stone's Park County entertainment company threatened legal action against RedBird Capital executive Jeff Shell, who would become president of Paramount Global if—you guessed it—the merger goes through. (It always comes back to that damn merger.) Parker and Stone are accusing Shell of tampering with their contract negotiations with WBD and Netflix. According to a letter obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Shell asked potential bidders for South Park to modify their offers in a 'manner calculated to benefit Paramount at the expense' of Park County. Shell allegedly urged WBD to give Paramount+ a 12-month exclusivity window on new episodes, and to cut its deal from 10 years to five in the hopes of bringing down its bid. (The show's previous exclusive streaming license with HBO Max expired a week ago, per Deadline.) The letter urges Shell, RedBird, and Skydance to 'immediately cease [their] interference.' Meanwhile, Skydance maintains that it has the 'right to approve material contracts.' The whole thing is a disaster, but it's not the end of South Park. Season 27 will now premiere July 23, just a few weeks later than its originally slated July 9 date, pending future delays of course. In the meantime, you can still stream seasons one through 26 on HBO Max as part of an extension granted during renewal negotiations, per Deadline. 'We are at the studio working on new episodes and we hope the fans get to see them somehow,' Parker and Stone wrote in their statement. You can watch a teaser for the season below: More from A.V. Club 3 new songs and 3 new albums to check out this weekend Spoiler Space: Jurassic World Rebirth once again makes dinosaurs everyone's problem Alicia Silverstone screws the wrong boy toy in the terrible erotic thriller Pretty Thing Solve the daily Crossword
