Gayle King’s Role at CBS ‘Will Be Drastically Reduced’ as She Moves Into a ‘Special Projects’ Position

Gayle King will remain at the Tiffany Network, despite rumors suggesting the highly paid CBS Mornings host might get the boot from the ratings-challenged show — but the daytime icon is being retained at a reduced rate, sources say.

Insiders tell Straight Shuter columnist Rob Shuter that despite spiraling viewership, Gayle, 71, is being kept on in a more modest capacity — with a slashed salary to match.

According to Shuter’s Naughty But Nice Substack page, a source shares that CBS “loves” Gayle, but needed to make adjustments. “She’s basically moving into a ‘special projects’ role,” an insider explains. “She can still headline big interviews, still be a face for the network, but her role will be drastically reduced.”

The move comes amid ongoing shake-ups by recently installed news chief Bari Weiss, who elevated Gayle’s now-former cohost Tony Dokoupil to the evening anchor chair and has promised more changes for the struggling morning show.

As the National Enquirer reported, speculation swirled that Gayle had a bull’s-eye on her back due to her annual $10 million salary and CBS Mornings continually trailing behind NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America in the ratings. The CBS show’s anemic audience share has at times been up to 20 percent lower than the year prior.

There’s also talk that former Today anchor Hoda Kotb, 61, may be brought in — as insiders say Weiss is wooing the fan favorite with the promise of making her central to CBS Mornings, which would leave little room for Gayle.

“Hoda would be the star,” a rival exec says. “Bari is offering her the spotlight, and the kingdom that comes with it.”

Meanwhile, sources say Gayle is just happy to save face.

“It’s a win-win,” a network executive adds. “Gayle keeps her reputation, CBS keeps a marquee name, and the viewers don’t lose her presence entirely.”