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CBS chief George Cheeks pledges to support team amid chaos and Trump threats

BBG News

In the midst of pending regulatory review for Paramount Global’s sale and a possible resolution in a disagreement with President Trump about “60 Minutes” on CBS News, co-CEO George Cheeks attempted to convey an image of regular day-to-day operations on Wednesday.

Amy Reisenbach, CBS Entertainment’s President, showcased the fresh prime-time lineup to reporters within the premises of Paramount’s Hollywood headquarters, emphasizing CBS’s unbroken prime-time victory spanning 17 consecutive seasons.

This current television season is wrapping up, and CBS has eight out of the top ten highest-rated prime-time shows on network television. Compared to rivals ABC and NBC, CBS’s original programming schedule is particularly strong. Remarkably, the viewership ratings for CBS increased by 3% this past year – a significant accomplishment given the general decline in traditional TV audiences.

However, this strength has been weakened due to the company’s public disputes with Donald Trump, who filed a 20-billion dollar lawsuit following alterations in a “60 Minutes” interview from last autumn involving Vice President Kamala Harris at that time.

Experts on the First Amendment have labeled Donald Trump’s lawsuit, accusing the “60 Minutes” broadcast of being fraudulent, as baseless. However, Trump has persisted in his stance, asserting that CBS should face consequences for their actions.

Last week, emissaries from Trump and Paramount sat down with a neutral intermediary, yet the dispute’s resolution didn’t materialize right away. The ongoing wish of controlling shareholder Shari Redstone to resolve the conflict through a settlement continues to cast a shadow over the company and its potential sale.

Cheeks acknowledged the turmoil Wednesday.

In a gathering of around a dozen reporters at CBS, Cheeks expressed that the current situation is unlike any other for both the industry and our company, posing exceptional challenges. As a leader, he emphasized, it’s crucial to demonstrate resilience during tough times.

…”My main aim is to ensure the team feels empowered and understands the importance of focusing on controllable factors,” Cheeks expressed. “Together, we will navigate through these challenges.

When inquired about whether he would still back CBS News and “60 Minutes”, Cheeks simply responded: “I stand with my entire team.

Hollywood Inc.

The news magazine persists in providing robust reports on the White House, as Paramount Global contemplates a resolution to pave the way for its potential sale to Skydance.

The issues surrounding Donald Trump have echoed within the organization, sparking internal demonstrations. In fact, the head producer of “60 Minutes,” Bill Owens, stepped down recently due to escalating demands from the corporation regarding news reporting.

60 Minutes viewers were informed by correspondent Scott Pelley in late April that Owens stepped down, with Pelley pointing out that journalists have been subject to growing corporate supervision.

60 Minutes has consistently pursued thorough reporting on the Trump administration’s policies since the lawsuit was brought against Trump last autumn.

Last Sunday, Pelley shared insights about Trump’s strategic use of executive orders to take aim at legal firms he alleges are misusing the judicial system in their actions against him.

For quite some time now, Redstone has openly voiced her dissatisfaction towards the broadcast “60 Minutes”. Specifically, she was displeased with how the program portrayed the Israel-Hamas conflict and its impact on Gaza. It’s been reported that she inquired from Cheeks if there were any upcoming “60 Minutes” segments planned that could potentially provoke Trump.

A Redstone spokesperson declined to comment.

If asked about his strategy for a possible unrest at CBS News should they reach a settlement with Trump, Cheeks replied, “I won’t provide an answer for that question.

For approximately ten months now, Redstone has consented to transfer ownership of Paramount – encompassing iconic movie studio on Melrose Avenue, Comedy Central, MTV, and streaming platform Paramount+ – to Skydance Media owned by David Ellison, a deal estimated at a worth of $8 billion.

In essence, the Redstone family will be leaving their long-held position in Hollywood following almost four decades. Instead, Ellison along with executives from RedBird Capital Partners will assume management of the company. Sources hint that Cheeks will continue to hold a significant role within the organization.

However, it’s important to note that the Federal Communications Commission has merely initiated initial assessments of the agreement, unlike some expectations that it would be concluded by late spring.

As a keen observer, I eagerly anticipate the approaching early October milestone, where both parties hope for approval to finalize the agreement. It’s crucial that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) agrees to the transition of CBS station licenses into the hands of the Ellison family.

Should the agreement not be finalized by mid-October, either party has the option to withdraw. In such a scenario, Paramount would be required to pay a significant termination fee.

This year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Brendan Carr (appointed during the Trump administration), initiated a public investigation into the edited “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Harris, to determine if the edits were severe enough to constitute manipulation or misrepresentation of news.

The results of the inquiry are pending.

Hollywood Inc.

According to Mario Gabelli, a long-term Paramount shareholder, they need to secure approval for [the proposed deal]. Gabelli and other stakeholders are looking forward to a fresh start, but the Skydance deal has become a slow and challenging process.

Throughout the presentation, neither Cheeks nor Reisenbach commented on Trump’s surprising declaration from Sunday about imposing a 100% tariff on films produced overseas. They considered it too early to make speculations about the matter.

There’s a lot of discussion about whether his plan is practical, and it remains unclear if TV shows are part of it. Notably, CBS produces several shows in Canada.

Cheeks and Reisenbach informed reporters that their team was making efforts to disregard any distractions in order to concentrate on planning the upcoming autumn schedule, a move that was appreciated by CBS staff. The following week marks the start of the annual upfront sales period when advertisers invest in the different network schedules.

George sets up a space that makes it seem as though we’re working within our own soundproof zone, according to Reisenbach.

CBS unveiled eight upcoming series, among them being “Marshals,” a fresh western drama penned by prolific creator Taylor Sheridan, as well as other forthcoming productions such as “CIA,” “Sheriff’s Country,” the humorous “DMV,” and talent search show “The Road,” which features Keith Urban and Blake Shelton in the music genre.

In the upcoming series “Boston Blue,” Donnie Wahlberg, returning from his role on “Blue Bloods,” and Sonequa Martin-Green, joining as a fellow detective, made a surprise appearance during the show’s presentation.

The new version of “Wahlberg’s Show” carries on the popularity of the original, starring Tom Selleck in “Blue Bloods.” Wahlberg assures fans that they won’t be disappointed. Additionally, there’s a cooking competition called “America’s Culinary Cup,” featuring Padma Lakshmi, and a thriller series titled “Harlan Coben’s Final Twist.

Hollywood Inc.

Under Carr’s leadership as chairman, there have been renewed allegations of news bias and investigations into diversity programs at Comcast and Disney. This month, he publicly criticized NBC’s handling of the Kilmar Abrego Garcia scandal.

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2025-05-08 01:01

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