CBS News appears to be benefiting from the wave of layoffs at Disney and ABC,
welcoming a number of seasoned professionals from its rival network as ABC continues to downsize. Industry insiders have noticed a growing trend of longtime Disney and ABC employees finding new opportunities at CBS, which has been strategically acquiring top talent from its competitor.
Some of the most notable former ABC staffers who have recently made the transition include
Matthew Mosk and Wendy Fisher, both of whom have secured executive positions at CBS after parting ways with their former network. In addition, Tom Cibrowski, a veteran of ABC News, has also been recruited by CBS. Last week, he was officially appointed as president and executive editor of CBS News, marking a significant addition to the network’s leadership team.
According to sources, CBS’s move to hire former ABC talent has been a deliberate strategy. Wendy McMahon, who serves as president and CEO of CBS News and Television Stations, as well as CBS Media Ventures, has been actively seeking out newly available talent from ABC. Insiders say she recognizes the value of bringing in experienced professionals who have proven their ability to navigate the competitive landscape of broadcast news.
McMahon’s ambitions reportedly include reviving CBS’s morning programming by mirroring the past success of Good Morning America, a show that has recently struggled to maintain its dominance. Her decision to hire Cibrowski is seen as a key step in that direction. Cibrowski played a pivotal role in GMA’s history, serving as executive producer when the show finally overtook NBC’s Today as the No. 1 morning news program in 2012. His addition to CBS “proves she’s bringing in heavy hitters,” an industry source revealed. “She’s building out the team and trying to stabilize the news division, so she can focus on her much bigger portfolio.”
McMahon’s own history with ABC makes this recruitment strategy even more noteworthy. Before joining CBS in 2021, she held a prominent role as president of ABC Owned Television Stations, making her well-acquainted with the talent and leadership that shaped the network’s success. Now, she appears to be leveraging that knowledge to strengthen CBS’s news division and expand its influence in the competitive broadcast landscape.
Meanwhile, ABC is dealing with the fallout from its latest round of layoffs. On Wednesday, the network announced significant job cuts, sending waves of anxiety through its workforce. Although an ABC executive attempted to minimize the severity of the situation, stating that “just under 200 employees are impacted, representing less than 6% of the total ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks workforce,” the layoffs have still created uncertainty among staffers.
Almin Karamehmedovic, the president of ABC News and a close associate of anchor David Muir, formally announced the staff reductions in a memo to employees. In his message, he acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, referring to the layoffs as “incredibly challenging” and recognizing the hardship it would create for those affected. “Today will undoubtedly be difficult for our organization,” he wrote, before going on to express his gratitude for the contributions of departing employees. “I’d especially like to acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by our departing colleagues, who have our respect, gratitude, and empathy.”
Despite the attempt to soften the blow, tensions remain high within ABC News. Employees are reportedly on edge, with speculation that another round of layoffs may take place before the summer. Many fear that the current restructuring efforts are only the beginning of broader changes that could further impact job security across the network.
Neither ABC nor CBS has issued an official statement in response to inquiries about the situation. However, the shifting landscape within these networks is clear. While ABC grapples with downsizing and internal uncertainty, CBS is seizing the opportunity to bolster its news division with experienced professionals from its rival. With McMahon at the helm, CBS appears to be making strategic moves to strengthen its position in the industry—potentially at ABC’s expense.
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