[NY Post] Embattled CBS News boss Wendy McMahon was pushed out on Monday after less than two years – including a $20 billion lawsuit brought by President Trump that has stalled parent company Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance Media.McMahon, who was given the title of CEO of CBS News, Stations, and CBS Media Ventures in 2023, has opposed settling the lawsuit over a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris in the heat of the presidential campaign that Trump alleges was deceptively edited to aid the former vice president.
“It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward,” McMahon said in a memo sent to shell-shocked staff.
CBS CEO George Cheeks,
| “They call him Sweet Cheeks, donchaknow, because he’s such a sour pickle of a man.” /not even a little bit sorry |
McMahon, 51, offered a curt reply in her farewell note.
“To George: Thank you for this opportunity.”
McMahon’s tenure was marred by her widely-panned overhaul of the evening news, plummeting ratings at both the nightly newscast and the morning show, and internal turmoil over editorial standards.
“This is not a surprise. It was just a question of when,” said one person familiar with the matter. “It’s a bit late to stand up for journalism given what she’s done to CBS News — it’s not even the ratings, it’s the quality of the journalism.”
Paramount’s controlling shareholder Shari Redstone supported McMahon’s removal, a source close to the situation told The Post.
In recent weeks, she has pushed to settle the bitter legal battle as the two sides have gone into mediation – leading longtime “60 Minutes” producer Bill Owens to quit.
The media heiress and daughter of the late Sumner Redstone stands to make about $2 billion from the Skydance deal.
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Wendy McMahon 10/17/2024 Shari Redstone wants more conservatives on CBS, slams Israel coverage
Wendy McMahon 10/10/2024 Head of CBS parent says ‘a mistake’ to rebuke host for Ta-Nehisi Coates interview