Charlie Rose and Gayle King will be the newest additions to CBS’s struggling morning program “The Early Show,” reported The New York Times Thursday.
The move, to be announced Tuesday, is an attempt to revive the low-rated show in a way that is different from other rivaling morning shows. The newly-revamped CBS program will take a hard news approach rather than the traditional, conversational feel of NBC’s “Today” as well as “Good Morning America” on ABC.
CBS executives were tight-lipped on the details of the changes, but industry members showed mixed reactions to the new strategy. Some doubt the weight of the effects Rose and King will have on ratings but others welcome the refocus on news.
A journalist, who works at a competing news network, said the shift allows CBS to say, “We’ve put the news back in the morning news, and we’ve decided to offer some thoughtful, mature conversation in the morning,” according to The New York Times.
“CBS Evening News” and “Face the Nation” are among the shows that have climbed in ratings following their shift towards a more news-driven direction.
“Today” executive producer Jim Bell understood the skepticism surrounding the non-conventional approach of the CBS morning show shuffle, but said “You have to be willing to take a chance if you want to stand out in morning television,” reported The New York Times.
