Paramount Global’s cost-cutting measures took a sharp turn toward its news division on October 29, 2025, as layoffs swept through CBS News, eliminating nearly 100 positions and prompting the cancellation of key streaming initiatives. The moves, part of a broader reduction affecting about 1,000 employees across the media conglomerate, signal a strategic pivot under new ownership, prioritizing efficiency in an era of streaming competition and shifting viewer habits. Among the most visible changes: the end of “CBS Mornings Plus” and “CBS Evening News Plus,” digital extensions designed to extend broadcast content to online audiences, alongside a comprehensive overhaul of the network’s Saturday morning lineup.

The layoffs, announced via an internal memo from Paramount CEO David Ellison early that Wednesday morning, framed the reductions as essential for addressing “redundancies” and realigning with “evolving priorities.” Ellison, whose Skydance Media finalized its acquisition of Paramount in August 2025 for approximately $8 billion, emphasized the need to build a “strong foundation for the future” amid financial pressures that have plagued the company for years. This initial wave represents roughly 5% of Paramount’s workforce, with another round of similar scale anticipated in the coming weeks, potentially targeting international operations more heavily.

At CBS News, the impact rippled across bureaus and programming desks, leaving staffers grappling with uncertainty. Sources described the atmosphere as “depressed and unhappy,” with one insider noting it felt like “a very tough day at the network.” The division, already navigating leadership transitions—including the recent appointment of Bari Weiss as editor in chief alongside President Tom Cibrowski—saw cuts that predated these hires but amplified ongoing tensions. Weiss, known for her tenure at The New York Times and founding The Free Press (recently acquired by Paramount for $150 million), addressed the staff during an editorial call, calling it an “enormously difficult day” and pledging support for those affected.

The streaming cancellations stand out as a direct hit to CBS News’ digital ambitions. Launched in recent years to capitalize on cord-cutting trends, “CBS Mornings Plus” and “CBS Evening News Plus” offered extended segments, behind-the-scenes insights, and on-demand access via Paramount+ and CBS News apps. These programs, anchored by familiar faces like Tony Dokoupil and Norah O’Donnell, aimed to bridge traditional broadcasts with younger, mobile-first viewers but struggled amid broader industry challenges. Viewership data for similar extensions has shown modest gains overshadowed by rising production costs and fragmented audiences, making them prime targets for elimination in a belt-tightening environment. Executives cited the need to consolidate resources, folding digital content back into core broadcasts rather than maintaining separate streams.

No less disruptive is the restructuring of “CBS Saturday Morning,” a weekend staple that debuted in 2023 as a more relaxed counterpart to the weekday edition, focusing on in-depth features, arts, and lifestyle segments. Co-hosts Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, both seasoned journalists with roots in sports and national reporting, are departing as part of the cuts, along with executive producer Brian Applegate. The show’s format will shift toward greater integration with the weekday “CBS Mornings” team, merging staffing and production to reduce overhead while preserving a Saturday presence. Ratings for the program had dipped 10% in total viewers to 1.9 million and 20% in the key 25-54 demographic to 346,000 for the season, factors insiders say contributed to the decision that it had become “too expensive” under current economics.

Beyond programming, the layoffs extend to operational footprints. CBS News is shuttering its Johannesburg bureau, a hub for African coverage since the early 2000s, with regional oversight shifting to London. Veteran correspondent Deb Patta, who has reported extensively from conflict zones including the Israel-Hamas tensions, is among those exiting. Additionally, the network’s Race & Culture Unit—launched in 2020 in response to the George Floyd tragedy to enhance diverse storytelling—is being disbanded, drawing quiet concern from staff about the erosion of specialized reporting.

These changes unfold against a backdrop of recent high-profile exits at CBS News, underscoring a period of flux. Just days before the layoffs, longtime anchor John Dickerson announced his departure from “CBS Evening News” by year’s end, capping a 15-year run that included stints on “CBS This Morning” and “Face the Nation.” Dickerson’s streaming companion, “CBS Evening News Plus,” was also scrapped in the cuts. Claudia Milne, head of standards and practices, had already stepped away, adding to the sense of transition.

Paramount’s broader layoffs paint a picture of a company in reinvention. The cuts span CBS Entertainment, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, and even the historic Melrose Avenue film studio, reflecting Hollywood’s ongoing contraction. Employment in Los Angeles’ motion picture sector has plummeted 27% since 2022, squeezed by streaming saturation and the rise of short-form social media content. In communications and distribution, figures like Teri Fleming, EVP of marketing for Paramount Global Content Distribution, and several CBS PR executives were let go, further streamlining the organization.

Labor representatives responded swiftly. The Writers Guild of America East and West issued a joint statement decrying the “toll on media workers” from “unfettered corporate consolidation,” vowing to enforce bargaining agreements and labor laws during the process. This echoes wider industry unrest, from Warner Bros. Discovery’s reductions to CNN’s trims, as legacy media grapples with digital disruption.

For CBS News, a pillar of broadcast journalism since 1927, the moment tests its adaptability. The division commands a loyal audience—”CBS Mornings” averages over 2.5 million daily viewers—but faces erosion from cable news rivals and podcasts. Under Weiss and Cibrowski, priorities may tilt toward opinion-infused content, given Weiss’s background, though the layoffs emphasize fiscal discipline over expansion. Paramount’s recent splurges, like UFC streaming rights and The Free Press acquisition, contrast with these savings, betting on high-engagement assets to offset losses.

Staff reactions, shared anonymously, blend resignation with resolve. “Seems no one is safe,” one remarked, capturing the “nerve-racking” process. Yet Ellison’s memo struck a hopeful note, thanking departing employees for their “hard work, professionalism, and resilience” and affirming Paramount’s “best days are ahead.”

As the dust settles, these shifts could redefine CBS News’ role in a multimedia landscape. The end of streaming spinoffs might refocus energies on flagship broadcasts, while the Saturday overhaul risks diluting a unique voice but promises leaner operations. The Johannesburg closure, though regrettable, aligns with global realignments seen at peers like CNN and BBC.

Looking ahead, Paramount’s trajectory hinges on balancing cuts with innovation. Ellison’s vision—fueled by his father Larry Ellison’s Oracle fortune—includes pursuits like a potential Warner Bros. Discovery bid, even as it trims sails. For CBS News, the challenge is maintaining journalistic integrity amid contraction, ensuring that cost savings don’t compromise the depth that has long distinguished it.

In the end, these layoffs are more than numbers on a spreadsheet; they’re chapters closing for dedicated professionals and signals of a media ecosystem in flux. As networks like Paramount navigate mergers and metrics, the question lingers: Can trimming the fat preserve the muscle of storytelling that keeps audiences informed and engaged? For now, CBS News presses on, adapting one broadcast at a time.