The newly appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News, Bari Weiss, has abruptly postponed a crucial internal meeting with staff after her heavily promoted debut television event recorded alarmingly poor viewing figures.
A Disappointing Debut on Screen
Weiss, who took the helm at the network just two months ago, had been scheduled to address employees in an 'internal town hall' to outline her vision. However, internal sources confirmed to Status that the meeting has now been delayed until early next year. This decision followed the release of early Nielsen ratings for her on-air debut: a televised town hall conversation with Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
The Saturday night broadcast averaged just 1.8 million total viewers, representing a significant 11 percent decline compared to programming in the same hour the previous year. The performance was even more concerning among the key demographic of viewers aged 25-54, where it suffered a staggering 41 percent drop year-over-year.
By contrast, Erika Kirk's recent appearance on Fox News' The Five secured 3.3 million viewers, despite airing on cable. The CBS broadcast also struggled to attract mainstream advertising, with major brands like Amazon and Procter & Gamble only airing commercials after the special concluded at 9pm.
Doubling Down Amid Criticism and Internal Strife
Despite the underwhelming reception, Weiss publicly reaffirmed her commitment to the format. In a statement issued on Thursday, she announced the 'Things That Matter' town hall series, featuring future guests such as Vice President JD Vance and OpenAI founder Sam Altman. The debates will tackle provocative topics including whether 'America needs God' and if 'feminism has failed women'.
"We believe that the vast majority of Americans crave honest conversation and civil, passionate debate," Weiss stated. "This series is for them."
Nevertheless, rival networks and industry executives are closely scrutinising Weiss's first major moves. One executive told the Daily Mail, "Considering the abysmal ratings and lack of advertisers, I’m not sure what these events accomplish other than to feed Bari’s addiction to being on camera."
The report from the right-leaning New York Post, titled 'Bari Weiss’ town hall with Erika Kirk saw ratings plummet as CBS News editor-in-chief debuts on-screen,' was said to have "particularly struck a nerve" internally at CBS.
A Rocky Tenure Under the Microscope
Weiss's brief tenure has been marked by controversy and perceived missteps. She was appointed to the top news role in October by Paramount boss David Ellison, despite having no prior experience leading a major news organisation. Ellison, the son of billionaire Trump ally Larry Ellison, handpicked Weiss to lead a transformation at CBS.
Several industry sources have told the Daily Mail that Weiss has already become a "laughing stock" within media circles. An ambitious, weeks-long search for a new anchor for CBS Evenings, which she masterminded, ultimately ended with the internal promotion of CBS Mornings' Tony Dokoupil after failing to secure an external star.
Another move criticised by network sources was the hiring of little-known ABC reporter Matt Gutman as CBS's next chief correspondent, described by one as "scraping the depths of her rolodex." Executives at ABC were reportedly aware of the offer but did not attempt to counter it.
Weiss, a former New York Times opinion writer, is the founder of the right-leaning publication The Free Press, which was acquired by Ellison as part of her hiring deal for a reported $150 million. Her appointment followed Paramount's multi-billion-dollar merger with Skydance, led by David Ellison, earlier this summer.
The future of her strategy, and her position, now appears uncertain. As one industry insider speculated to the Mail, "The over/under in the industry is how much damage to the CBS News brand the Ellisons are willing to tolerate before they step in and remove the inept Bari Weiss from her role."
