Gayle King, the long-serving co-anchor of CBS Mornings, may depart the morning show sometime in 2026.
According to a Variety report, King, whose contract is set to expire in May, could still stay with CBS News and be reassigned to another role. One potential avenue is King latching onto a producer deal and creating her own programming for the network.
In a statement to TVNewser, a CBS News spokesperson said, “There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026. She’s a truly valued part of CBS, and we look forward to engaging with her about the future.”
Gayle King speaking at Adweek’s Convergent TV Summit.
King has been part of CBS News’ morning show since January 2012 and has experienced numerous changes during that time, including changes in on-air colleagues, the show’s format, and the way TV news is consumed in general.
CBS Mornings, which she co-anchors alongside Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson, continues to trail its other morning show competitors, ABC News’ Good Morning America and NBC News’ Today, in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo.
If King were to depart the network, it would be one of the most significant exits since the arrival of Bari Weiss as editor in chief of CBS News in early October. She’d join CBS Evening News co-anchor John Dickerson, who this week announced he was leaving the network at the end of the year, and Claudia Milne, who oversaw standards and practices and exited earlier in the month.
It has been a tumultuous week at CBS News, which also underwent layoffs that reduced its headcount by nearly 100. Among those affected are CBS Saturday Morning’s longtime co-anchors Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, as well as the show’s executive producer, Brian Applegate.
Other on-air talent reportedly impacted include Debora Patta, Janet Shamlian, Nikki Battiste, Nancy Chen,and Lisa Ling.
These layoffs come as CBS News’ parent company, Paramount Skydance, is looking to eliminate a total of 2,000 positions, with 1,000 positions impacted in this go-around and the remaining 1,000 to take place at a later date.
Meanwhile, all focus is on Weiss, who has a mandate from Paramount’s CEO, David Ellison, to overhaul CBS News. She has been charged with shaping editorial priorities, championing core values across CBS News’ various platforms, and overseeing innovation at the network, with a focus on how it reports and delivers news.
Whatever happens with King, more changes are to be expected as Weiss settles into her role.
