Can ’60 Minutes’ Prized Independence Survive a Major Deal?

by

An intriguing fact about “60 Minutes” is its longstanding commitment to maintaining an exceptional level of independence. This independence isn’t merely a characteristic shared by most news programs, but rather, it sets itself apart even from other segments within CBS News.

Although most CBS News employees work at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street, the team behind 60 Minutes has always kept their headquarters in a more conventional business setting, located above BMW of Manhattan, just across the street.

Or:

While CBS News staffers predominantly work at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street, the 60 Minutes team has traditionally chosen to work from an office situated above BMW of Manhattan, which is located just across the street.

Both options maintain the original meaning while providing a more natural and easy-to-read rephrasing of the given sentence.

60 Minutes has consistently featured that connective tissue in their stories: Courageous enough to challenge the powerful, delve into the unknown, and sometimes present an alternate viewpoint about a public figure who was thought to be well-known. These segments could run up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses, an unparalleled cost for a TV news program.

Or:

The connective tissue has always been a part of 60 Minutes’ stories: They aren’t afraid to confront the powerful, venture into the uncharted territories, and occasionally offer a fresh viewpoint on a public figure who people thought they knew well. Some segments can cost upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars, an unusually high price tag for a TV news program.

60 Minutes has consistently held the top spot among television news programs, frequently appearing in Nielsen’s top 10 ratings, which is quite remarkable given that usually only sports manage to achieve such feats.

For quite some time, CBS has attempted to replicate the success of its 60 Minutes formula across different sections of their news department. Their hope was that this approach could enhance several CBS News programs, particularly those airing in the mornings and evenings, which have struggled to compete with ABC and NBC over the years.

Bill Owens, executive producer of “60 Minutes,” was also given supervision over the “CBS Evening News.” The aim was to incorporate some of the values and style of “60 Minutes” into this news program.

Now, Owens announced his departure from 60 Minutes, stating that over the past few months, he realized he would not be permitted to continue managing the show in the same manner as before. He expressed that he wanted to make decisions independently based on what was best for 60 Minutes and its audience.

In a gathering, he informed the team that for a million years past, the corporation had been unaware of what was coming next, relying on 60 Minutes to share the stories and decide their broadcasting freely. However, this has shifted significantly in recent weeks. Susan Zirinsky, who previously served as the president of CBS News, came back to the network this year in an editor role following a 60 Minutes segment about Israel that was criticized for being biased and one-sided against Israel by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Although it’s impossible to tackle such delicate matters without receiving some level of criticism, it’s crucial that we address any raised concerns, particularly those about potential bias in CBS News broadcasts. We must ensure these issues don’t tarnish our reputation or hinder our progress, affect our purpose or our bond with our audience.”

This version maintains the original’s meaning while using simpler and more conversational language to make it easier for readers to understand.

It’s been noted that Zirinsky has been previewing around 60 Minutes segments prior to airtime, which is said to be an atypical practice. Additionally, Semafor mentioned that Shari Redstone, the majority shareholder of Paramount, requested a rundown of future story topics – another shift from the norm.

However, it’s challenging not to see the chaos unfolding at 60 Minutes without taking into account the broader factors: Redstone is involved in a deal to transfer Paramount Global to Skydance, a company owned by David Ellison. This transaction is financed by none other than Larry Ellison, David’s father and the founder of Oracle.

I’m eagerly keeping tabs on the progress of the Skydance-Paramount deal, as I am one of many fans waiting for its final approval. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for signing off on any transfers of broadcast licenses, and they have set a 180-day window to review such deals. As I write this, we’re on day 159 of the review process.

At the same time, the FCC is also delving into a complaint regarding “news distortion” against CBS News, stemming from a 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris last year. This additional scrutiny may be impacting the timeline for the Skydance-Paramount deal, but I’ll continue to stay informed and hope for a swift resolution!

As a gamer, I can tell you it’s crunch time, the tension is palpable, and everything rides on this game. The FCC seems to be asking for some heavy compromises from Skydance to seal the deal. They might want an independent mediator or perhaps relocate some team members or assets from New York City to cities where CBS has local stations – it’s like they’re rearranging my gaming setup for better performance!

The conundrum at CBS News revolves around whether, after over half a century, the iconic show 60 Minutes may be sacrificing some of its historical independence to seal the deal. Previously, Bill Owens was just the third Executive Producer in the series’ history; soon, there will be a fourth. The subsequent changes could dictate if 60 Minutes transforms into yet another run-of-the-mill news magazine, or persists as the benchmark for excellence in its format.

For influential business leaders, news can frequently cause more hassle than benefit. As Chuck Todd, a former NBC anchor, expressed to THR recently, there’s a “cultural issue” at hand: “In my view, that’s irreparable. Whether you’re at Disney, Warner Bros., Comcast, or any other company, they’re expanding into different areas and they simply don’t have the time to nurture this (news sector).

The reward for Redstone is a substantial multiple-billion dollar compensation, while Ellison’s prize is a sprawling media empire.

CBS News plays a part within the bigger system, and if it’s causing an issue with a negotiation, there might be a possibility that one party would seek a solution to smooth things over.

Approximately two decades ago, journalist Charlie Rose, working for “60 Minutes II,” visited San Francisco Bay to engage in a discussion with Larry Ellison, who had invested over $100 million not only in constructing a vessel but also in assembling a team with the aim of triumphing in the America’s Cup yacht race.

In the given segment, Rose delved into the factors that drive Ellison’s behavior, revealing a strong competitive streak. “I can’t get enough of victory,” Ellison shared with Rose, “the more I win, the more I crave winning.

Ellison risks billions from his personal wealth, aiming for his son to claim a significant award at Paramount Global. However, the effort required to achieve this victory may ultimately shape the destiny of the nation’s most popular news program.

Read More

2025-04-23 19:55