Latest news with #Cheeks
Axios
19-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon steps down
CBS News and Stations president and CEO Wendy McMahon on Monday announced she is stepping down from her role, according to a memo sent to staff from Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks. McMahon also oversaw CBS Media Ventures, the network's syndication unit. Why it matters: Her resignation comes as CBS' parent company Paramount considers settling a $20 billion lawsuit from President Trump over a segment on "60 Minutes." Zoom in: No new executives are directly replacing McMahon, according to Cheeks' memo. On the news side, CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell will each report directly to Cheeks moving forward. On the syndication side, CBS' ad sales and programming leads, Scott Trupchak and John Budkins, will now report to Bryon Rubin, CBS' chief operating officer and CFO. McMahon will stay on with the companies for a "few weeks to support the transition," Cheeks wrote. Catch up quick: McMahon joined CBS as president and co-head of CBS News in 2021 from ABC. She split the role with Neeraj Khemlani who stepped down from his position in 2023. After Khemlani's departure, McMahon was named the sole president and CEO of CBS News Stations and CBS Media Ventures. The big picture: Under McMahon, CBS News expanded its streaming efforts and rejiggered its primetime lineup. But those editorial changes were at times overshadowed by controversies around the company's coverage.
Mint
15-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
The executive in the middle of Paramount's Trump storm
Paramount Global executive George Cheeks has spent more than three decades dealing with some of the entertainment industry's most challenging personalities and trying tasks. Now he faces his stiffest test. Cheeks is helping to negotiate a settlement of President Trump's $20 billion lawsuit against Paramount's CBS News. Paramount's controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, sees a resolution as necessary to cementing her merger deal with Skydance Media, but it is strongly opposed by CBS News staffers and executives. Hanging in the balance are the $8 billion merger of Paramount and Skydance—which needs the approval of the Federal Communications Commission—and the reputation of CBS News. For Cheeks, it is a high-wire act. In addition to the lawsuit, Cheeks, who runs CBS while helming Paramount with two other executives, has been dealing with Redstone's complaints about CBS News's coverage of Israel's war against Hamas. He is now trying to calm nerves at CBS News after a longtime '60 Minutes" executive producer resigned over corporate oversight. Adding to the challenges, Paramount's business is under pressure. Advertisers are reducing spending due to concerns about the economy. After laying off thousands of employees last year, the company is preparing another round of job cuts as soon as next month that would save hundreds of millions of dollars in costs, according to people familiar with the situation. Yet if anyone can keep his footing in such precarious circumstances, Cheeks's supporters say, it is the former entertainment lawyer, who has steered television networks through a rapidly changing media landscape while overcoming thorny issues and pleasing big egos. 'I do not know how he manages all he oversees and always has a smile on his face despite whatever noise is going on," CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach said. Cheeks dismissed questions about settlement talks during a recent event promoting CBS's upcoming prime-time lineup, saying 'I appreciate the try, but I have had no tequila today." He acknowledged the network faced challenges and said he was focused on supporting his team. 'For me, what's important as a leader is how you show up in a difficult time," he said. His biggest goal was making sure everyone is 'locking arms and saying, 'We're a team, we're a family, we're going to get through this together.' " Cheeks declined to comment for this article. Trump's lawsuit alleges '60 Minutes" deceitfully edited an interview with Kamala Harris, who was then the Democratic presidential candidate. Cheeks has played a role in settlement talks. The sides, which are also in mediation, have been tens of millions of dollars apart, The Wall Street Journal reported. The prospect of a settlement has angered many CBS news staff, who say the editing of the interview by '60 Minutes" was typical and showed a different part of the answer to the same question. Some of the staff also criticize Cheeks for going too far accommodating Redstone's complaints that CBS News coverage of the war with Hamas has displayed an anti-Israel bias. Redstone is the daughter of the late media titan Sumner Redstone. After she and Jewish groups criticized a '60 Minutes" story about the Biden administration's response to the war in Gaza, Cheeks in January named former CBS News President Susan Zirinsky as executive editor in charge of vetting stories and checking for bias. Redstone pushed for the hire, people familiar with the matter said. Zirinsky, who is close to Redstone, was an executive producer of 'We Will Dance Again," a recent documentary about the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on an Israeli music festival. Her assignment undercut '60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens, some CBS News staff said, because he has long had an antagonistic relationship with Zirinsky. Owens resigned last month, citing a loss of editorial control of the show to corporate oversight. People close to Cheeks and '60 Minutes" said he has preserved the show's editorial independence and none of its stories have been altered or softened. When he joined NBCUniversal in 2012 as a late-night business-affairs executive, Cheeks formed a close bond with Lorne Michaels, the powerful creator of 'Saturday Night Live," who is known for being wary of network 'suits" and their requests. Cheeks won Michaels over by not coming across as a corporate type, there to look over his shoulder and scrutinize every last item on his budgets, Michaels said. 'He cared about the shows and the people who did the shows," Michaels said in an interview, and he understood 'our end of the business, which was not something NBC knew much about." Some network executives, however, said Cheeks catered too much to Michaels. Cheeks played a key role in the lucrative 2015 NBCU deal to acquire reruns of 'Saturday Night Live" from Michaels for between $250 million and $300 million, people familiar with the pact said. Lorne Michaels, the creator of 'Saturday Night Live,' had a close bond with George Cheeks after the executive joined NBCUniversal in 2012. Michaels said Cheeks wasn't a pushover. 'He was tough when he had to be," he said. 'He was a fan of the show without being a sycophant or star-struck." With Michaels advocating for him, Cheeks climbed the ladder at NBCU, eventually becoming co-chairman of NBC Entertainment. Cheeks's rise at the company halted in 2020, when NBC movie boss Jeff Shell was also given oversight of NBC Entertainment. Shell moved Cheeks to vice chair of NBCU Content Studios, which some staff saw as a demotion. At the staff meeting outlining the restructuring, Cheeks broke down in tears and pounded a table, saying while he understood this was what was best for the company it still hurt, people who attended the meeting said. Cheeks took the helm of CBS a few months later. There, he is known for working through tropical vacations and has drawn praise for maintaining CBS's solid prime-time lineup and holding on to the network's important sports deals, including with the NFL. Cheeks greenlighted such CBS hits as 'Ghosts," 'Tracker" and this season's successful 'Matlock." Yet Paramount rolled back the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that Cheeks had pushed, such as directing that half of the casts of unscripted shows be Black, indigenous or people of color and assigning a quarter of its development budget toward Bipoc creators and producers. The FCC has been examining Paramount's commitment to abstain from such diversity initiatives as part of its review of the Skydance merger, The Wall Street Journal has reported. Cheeks is one of three co-CEOs of Paramount along with movie studio head Brian Robbins and cable network chief Chris McCarthy. He has taken a leadership role among the three CEOs preparing the company for the Skydance takeover, including making sure Paramount promptly answers Skydance's information requests, people familiar with the situation said. After the combination is finished, Cheeks is expected to take a senior position at Skydance, people familiar with the matter said. He isn't expected to report to Shell, the former NBC executive who had sidelined Cheeks and who will become Skydance president. Write to Joe Flint at and Jessica Toonkel at
Wall Street Journal
15-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
The Executive in the Middle of Paramount's Trump Storm
Paramount Global executive George Cheeks has spent more than three decades dealing with some of the entertainment industry's most challenging personalities and trying tasks. Now he faces his stiffest test. Cheeks is helping to negotiate a settlement of President Trump's $20 billion lawsuit against Paramount's CBS PARA -1.50%decrease; red down pointing triangle News. Paramount's controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, sees a resolution as necessary to cementing her merger deal with Skydance Media, but it is strongly opposed by CBS News staffers and executives. Hanging in the balance are the $8 billion merger of Paramount and Skydance—which needs the approval of the Federal Communications Commission—and the reputation of CBS News. For Cheeks, it is a high-wire act. In addition to the lawsuit, Cheeks, who runs CBS while helming Paramount with two other executives, has been dealing with Redstone's complaints about CBS News's coverage of Israel's war against Hamas. He is now trying to calm nerves at CBS News after a longtime '60 Minutes' executive producer resigned over corporate oversight. Adding to the challenges, Paramount's business is under pressure. Advertisers are reducing spending due to concerns about the economy. After laying off thousands of employees last year, the company is preparing another round of job cuts as soon as next month that would save hundreds of millions of dollars in costs, according to people familiar with the situation. Yet if anyone can keep his footing in such precarious circumstances, Cheeks's supporters say, it is the former entertainment lawyer, who has steered television networks through a rapidly changing media landscape while overcoming thorny issues and pleasing big egos. 'I do not know how he manages all he oversees and always has a smile on his face despite whatever noise is going on,' CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach said. Cheeks dismissed questions about settlement talks during a recent event promoting CBS's upcoming prime-time lineup, saying 'I appreciate the try, but I have had no tequila today.' He acknowledged the network faced challenges and said he was focused on supporting his team. 'For me, what's important as a leader is how you show up in a difficult time,' he said. His biggest goal was making sure everyone is 'locking arms and saying, 'We're a team, we're a family, we're going to get through this together.' ' Cheeks declined to comment for this article. Trump's lawsuit alleges '60 Minutes' deceitfully edited an interview with Kamala Harris, who was then the Democratic presidential candidate. Cheeks has played a role in settlement talks. The sides, which are also in mediation, have been tens of millions of dollars apart, The Wall Street Journal reported. The prospect of a settlement has angered many CBS news staff, who say the editing of the interview by '60 Minutes' was typical and showed a different part of the answer to the same question. Some of the staff also criticize Cheeks for going too far accommodating Redstone's complaints that CBS News coverage of the war with Hamas has displayed an anti-Israel bias. Redstone is the daughter of the late media titan Sumner Redstone. After she and Jewish groups criticized a '60 Minutes' story about the Biden administration's response to the war in Gaza, Cheeks in January named former CBS News President Susan Zirinsky as executive editor in charge of vetting stories and checking for bias. Redstone pushed for the hire, people familiar with the matter said. Zirinsky, who is close to Redstone, was an executive producer of 'We Will Dance Again,' a recent documentary about the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on an Israeli music festival. Her assignment undercut '60 Minutes' executive producer Bill Owens, some CBS News staff said, because he has long had an antagonistic relationship with Zirinsky. Owens resigned last month, citing a loss of editorial control of the show to corporate oversight. People close to Cheeks and '60 Minutes' said he has preserved the show's editorial independence and none of its stories have been altered or softened. When he joined NBCUniversal in 2012 as a late-night business-affairs executive, Cheeks formed a close bond with Lorne Michaels, the powerful creator of 'Saturday Night Live,' who is known for being wary of network 'suits' and their requests. Cheeks won Michaels over by not coming across as a corporate type, there to look over his shoulder and scrutinize every last item on his budgets, Michaels said. 'He cared about the shows and the people who did the shows,' Michaels said in an interview, and he understood 'our end of the business, which was not something NBC knew much about.' Some network executives, however, said Cheeks catered too much to Michaels. Cheeks played a key role in the lucrative 2015 NBCU deal to acquire reruns of 'Saturday Night Live' from Michaels for between $250 million and $300 million, people familiar with the pact said. Michaels said Cheeks wasn't a pushover. 'He was tough when he had to be,' he said. 'He was a fan of the show without being a sycophant or star-struck.' With Michaels advocating for him, Cheeks climbed the ladder at NBCU, eventually becoming co-chairman of NBC Entertainment. Cheeks's rise at the company halted in 2020, when NBC movie boss Jeff Shell was also given oversight of NBC Entertainment. Shell moved Cheeks to vice chair of NBCU Content Studios, which some staff saw as a demotion. At the staff meeting outlining the restructuring, Cheeks broke down in tears and pounded a table, saying while he understood this was what was best for the company it still hurt, people who attended the meeting said. Cheeks took the helm of CBS a few months later. There, he is known for working through tropical vacations and has drawn praise for maintaining CBS's solid prime-time lineup and holding on to the network's important sports deals, including with the NFL. Cheeks greenlighted such CBS hits as 'Ghosts,' 'Tracker' and this season's successful 'Matlock.' Yet Paramount rolled back the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that Cheeks had pushed, such as directing that half of the casts of unscripted shows be Black, indigenous or people of color and assigning a quarter of its development budget toward Bipoc creators and producers. The FCC has been examining Paramount's commitment to abstain from such diversity initiatives as part of its review of the Skydance merger, The Wall Street Journal has reported. Cheeks is one of three co-CEOs of Paramount along with movie studio head Brian Robbins and cable network chief Chris McCarthy. He has taken a leadership role among the three CEOs preparing the company for the Skydance takeover, including making sure Paramount promptly answers Skydance's information requests, people familiar with the situation said. After the combination is finished, Cheeks is expected to take a senior position at Skydance, people familiar with the matter said. He isn't expected to report to Shell, the former NBC executive who had sidelined Cheeks and who will become Skydance president. Write to Joe Flint at and Jessica Toonkel at
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
CBS chief George Cheeks pledges to support team amid chaos and Trump threats
Business CBS chief George Cheeks pledges to support team amid chaos and Trump threats With Paramount Global's sale stuck before federal regulators and a potential settlement looming with President Trump in a dispute over CBS News' "60 Minutes," Paramount co-Chief Executive George Cheeks on Wednesday sought to project a sense of business as usual. Cheeks and CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach unveiled the network's new prime-time schedule for reporters at Paramount's Hollywood offices, trumpeting CBS' prime-time winning streak of 17 consecutive seasons. For the season that ends this month, CBS boasts eight of the top 10 prime-time shows in network TV. The broadcaster's schedule of originals towers over competitors ABC and NBC. This past year, ratings grew 3% - a rare feat in an era of shrinking linear TV audiences. But that strength has been undermined by the company's high-profile tangles with Trump, who brought a $20-billion lawsuit over edits of a "60 Minutes" interview last fall with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. First Amendment experts have described Trump's lawsuit, which alleges the "60 Minutes" episode was fraudulent, as frivolous. But the president has remained defiant, saying CBS should be punished. Representatives of Trump and Paramount met with a mediator last week, but there was no immediate resolution of the lawsuit. Controlling shareholder Shari Redstone's desire to end the wrangling with a settlement remains a cloud hanging over the company and its sale. Cheeks acknowledged the turmoil Wednesday. "This is an unprecedented, challenging time for the industry and for our company in particular," Cheeks told about a dozen reporters gathered in a CBS conference room. "For me, what's most important as a leader is how you show up in a difficult time. ... "My biggest goal is to make sure that the team feels supported and that we recognize that we have to focus on what we can control," Cheeks said. "We're going to get through this." When asked whether CBS News and the group at "60 Minutes" would continue to enjoy his support, Cheeks said succinctly: "My entire team." The struggles with Trump have reverberated throughout the company and prompted internal protests. The executive producer of "60 Minutes," Bill Owens, resigned last month, citing increased corporate pressure over news coverage. Correspondent Scott Pelley told "60 Minutes" viewers about Owens' resignation in late April, noting that journalists had been facing increased corporate oversight. Since Trump's suit was filed last fall, "60 Minutes" has remained dogged in its coverage of the Trump administration's policies. On Sunday, Pelley reported on how Trump has used executive orders to target law firms that he accuses of "weaponizing" the justice system against him. Redstone has expressed frustration with "60 Minutes" for months. She was unhappy with the program's coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and its effects on Gaza. She reportedly has asked Cheeks whether there were more "60 Minutes" stories coming that could antagonize Trump. A Redstone spokesperson declined to comment. When asked how he would approach a potential uprising within CBS News should the company settle with Trump, Cheeks said, "I'm not going to answer that question." It's been 10 months since Redstone agreed to sell Paramount, which includes the historic Melrose Avenue movie studio, Comedy Central, MTV and Paramount+, to David Ellison's Skydance Media, a deal valued at $8 billion. The deal would see the Redstone family vacating its perch in Hollywood after nearly 40 years. Ellison and executives with RedBird Capital Partners would take over control of the company. Cheeks is expected to stay on in a high-profile role, sources have said. But the Federal Communications Commission has only begun preliminary steps to review the deal, which insiders had hoped would be finalized by early this spring. The two sides face an early October deadline to gain approval and close the deal. Paramount needs the FCC to consent to the transfer of CBS station licenses to the Ellison family. If the deal isn't wrapped by mid-October, either side could back out. Paramount would owe a substantial breakup fee. Early this year, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, opened a public inquiry into the "60 Minutes" Harris interview to gauge whether the edits rose to the level of news distortion. The results of the inquiry are pending. During the presentation, neither Cheeks or Reisenbach addressed Trump's bombshell announcement Sunday that he planned to impose 100% tariffs on movies that are filmed in foreign countries, saying it was premature to speculate. Questions swirl about the feasibility of his proposal, and Trump did not say whether television shows would be included. CBS films several shows in Canada. Cheeks and Reisenbach told reporters their team was trying to block out the "noise" to focus on developing the new fall schedule, a sense of normalcy that was welcomed within CBS' ranks. Next week begins the annual upfront sales season when advertisers place bets on the various network schedules. "George really creates an environment where we almost feel like we have the space and room to operate in a noise bubble," Reisenbach said. CBS announced eight new series, including "Marshals," a western drama from hitmaker Taylor Sheridan. Other new shows include "CIA," "Sheriff Country," a comedy called "DMV" and a country music talent search show, "The Road," with Keith Urban and Blake Shelton. Donnie Wahlberg, who will reprise his role from the CBS hit "Blue Bloods" in the new show "Boston Blue," made a cameo appearance at the presentation, along with Sonequa Martin-Green, who will co-star as a detective. The Wahlberg show picks up from the beloved Tom Selleck original. "No 'Blue Bloods' fans will be disappointed," Wahlberg said. Joining them will be a cook-off called "America's Culinary Cup" with Padma Lakshmi and "Harlan Coben's Final Twist." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers. This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 8:08 PM.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CBS chief George Cheeks pledges to support team amid chaos and Trump threats
With Paramount Global's sale stuck before federal regulators and a potential settlement looming with President Trump in a dispute over CBS News' "60 Minutes," co-Chief Executive George Cheeks on Wednesday sought to project a sense of business-as-usual. Cheeks and CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach unveiled the network's new primetime schedule for reporters at Paramount's Hollywood offices, trumpeting CBS' primetime winning streak of 17 consecutive seasons. For the season that ends this month, CBS boasts eight of the top 10 primetime shows in network TV. The broadcaster's schedule of originals towers over competitors ABC and NBC. This past year, ratings grew 3% — a rare feat in an era of shrinking linear TV audiences. But that strength has been undermined by the company's high-profile tangles with Trump, who brought a $20-billion lawsuit over edits of a "60 Minutes" interview last fall with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. First Amendment experts have described Trump's lawsuit, which alleges the "60 Minutes" episode was fraudulent, as frivolous. But the president has remained defiant, saying CBS should be punished. Representatives of Trump and Paramount met with a mediator last week, but there was no immediate resolution of the lawsuit. Controlling shareholder Shari Redstone's desire to end the wrangling with a settlement remains a cloud hanging over the company and its sale. Cheeks acknowledged the turmoil Wednesday. "This is an unprecedented, challenging time for the industry and for our company in particular," Cheeks told about a dozen reporters gathered in a CBS conference room. "For me, what's most important as a leader is how you show up in a difficult time. ' ... My biggest goal is to make sure that the team feels supported and that we recognize that we have to focus on what we can control," Cheeks said. "We're going to get through this." When asked whether CBS News and the group at "60 Minutes" would continue to enjoy his support, Cheeks said succinctly: "My entire team." Read more: '60 Minutes' shows it's not scared off by Trump's lawsuit and threats George Cheeks the at Lincoln Center in New York in January. (Kristina Bumphrey / Getty Images) The struggles with Trump have reverberated throughout the company and prompted internal protests. The executive producer of "60 Minutes," Bill Owens, resigned last month, citing increased corporate pressure over news coverage. Correspondent Scott Pelley told '60 Minutes' viewers about Owens' resignation in late April, noting that journalists had been facing increased corporate oversight. Since Trump's suit was filed last fall, '60 Minutes' has remained dogged in its coverage of the Trump administration's policies. This past Sunday, Pelley reported on how Trump has used executive orders to target law firms that he accuses of 'weaponizing' the justice system against him. Redstone has expressed frustration with "60 Minutes" for months. She was unhappy with the program's coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and its effects on Gaza. She reportedly has asked Cheeks whether there were more "60 Minutes" stories coming that could antagonize Trump. A Redstone spokesperson declined to comment. When asked how he would approach a potential uprising within CBS News should the company settle with Trump, Cheeks said, "I'm not going to answer that question." It's been 10 months since Redstone agreed to sell Paramount, which includes the historic Melrose Avenue movie studio, Comedy Central, MTV and Paramount+, to David Ellison's Skydance Media, a deal valued at $8 billion. The deal would see the Redstone family vacating its perch in Hollywood after nearly 40 years. Ellison and executives with RedBird Capital Partners would take over control of the company. Cheeks is expected to stay on in a high-profile role, sources have said. But the Federal Communications Commission has only begun preliminary steps to review the deal, which insiders had hoped would be finalized by early this spring. The two sides face an early October deadline to gain approval and close the deal. Paramount needs the FCC to consent to the transfer of CBS station licenses to the Ellison family. If the deal isn't wrapped by mid-October, either side could back out. Paramount would owe a substantial break-up fee. Early this year, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, opened a public inquiry into the "60 Minutes" Harris interview to gauge whether the edits rose to the level of news distortion. The results of the inquiry are pending. Read more: Inside Paramount's bumpy sale: the president, a scion and a possible sheikh During the presentation, neither Cheeks or Reisenbach addressed Trump's bombshell announcement Sunday that he planned to impose 100% tariffs on movies that are filmed in foreign countries, saying it was premature to speculate. Questions swirl about the feasibility of his proposal, and Trump did not say whether television shows would be included. CBS films several shows in Canada. Cheeks and Reisenbach told reporters their team was trying to block out the "noise" to focus on developing the new fall schedule, a sense of normalcy that was welcomed within CBS' ranks. Next week begins the annual upfront sales season when advertisers place bets on the various network schedules. "George really creates an environment where we almost feel like we have the space and room to operate in a noise bubble," Reisenbach said. CBS announced eight new series, including "Marshals," a new western drama from hitmaker Taylor Sheridan, along with other new shows, "CIA," "Sheriff Country," a comedy called "DMV" and a country music talent search show, "The Road," with Keith Urban and Blake Shelton. Donnie Wahlberg, who will reprise his role from the CBS hit "Blue Bloods" in the new show "Boston Blue," made a cameo appearance at the presentation, along with Sonequa Martin-Green, who will co-star as a detective. The Wahlberg show picks up from the beloved Tom Selleck original. "No 'Blue Bloods' fans will be disappointed," Wahlberg said. There's also a bake-off called "America's Culinary Cup" with Padma Lakshmi and "Harlan Coben's Final Twist." Read more: How Trump's FCC chairman is stoking the culture war Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
