“CBS Mornings” is on track to post its worst June ever, according to a report, adding to concerns about the state of CBS News as the network continues to grapple with fallout from editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’s controversial overhaul.
New Nielsen data obtained by the Status newsletter showed that the morning program is averaging roughly 1.7 million viewers and 275,000 adults ages 25-54 this month — numbers that would make June the lowest-rated in the show’s history.
The disappointing performance comes on the heels of the show’s worst-rated May ever and its lowest-rated first quarter on record, according to the report.
The data also suggested that CBS News may have suffered an immediate ratings hit following the firing of veteran “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley.
According to Status, “CBS Mornings” averaged 1.8 million viewers and 313,000 adults ages 25-54 on June 3, the day Pelley was fired.
The following morning, the audience fell to 1.59 million viewers and 225,000 in the key demographic — declines of 11% and 28%, respectively.
The audience later rebounded, but the episode reportedly alarmed some network executives.
Morning-show ratings are closely watched because they drive a substantial portion of broadcast-news advertising revenue, often making them more financially important than the evening newscasts.
Still, CBS News insiders contacted by The Post pushed back on suggestions that Weiss is solely responsible for the show’s struggles.
One insider noted that “CBS Mornings” has trailed NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s “Good Morning America” for years and argued that the program’s ratings challenges predate Weiss’s arrival.
According to the source, the show’s audience levels are broadly similar to where they stood when Weiss took over CBS News, making it difficult to attribute the current performance entirely to recent management decisions.
The insider also pointed to last week’s guest-host appearance by former “The View” co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck as a bright spot.
According to CBS data, the June 16 broadcast was up 10% in total viewers and 8% among adults ages 25-54 compared with the prior week, while the June 17 show rose 9% in total viewers and 15% in the demo.
Among women ages 25-54, viewership increased 19% on June 16 and 31% on June 17 compared with the prior week, according to the network.
Over the three days Hasselbeck appeared, CBS said the show averaged a 5% increase in total viewers and a 2% gain in the key demographic versus the previous week.
The network has been searching for a permanent third host since Tony Dokoupil left the program earlier this year to anchor the “CBS Evening News.”
Status reported that CBS News president Tom Cibrowski had previously explored bringing in former “Good Morning America” anchor Josh Elliott for the role and even arranged on-camera tests before the idea was abandoned.
More recently, Hasselbeck’s guest-hosting stint has been viewed by some inside the network as an informal audition as CBS continues to evaluate potential candidates.
The ratings scrutiny comes as Weiss remains under pressure over her sweeping changes at CBS News, particularly at “60 Minutes,” where the firings of executive producer Tanya Simon, correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, and veteran correspondent Scott Pelley triggered a public revolt inside the iconic newsmagazine.
CBS News declined to comment.
