CBS This Morning

CBS This Morning is a flagship American morning television news program broadcast on the CBS television network. Launched in 2012 as a revamp of its predecessor, the program is produced from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City and aims to provide a substantive alternative to its competitors with a focus on hard news and in-depth interviews. The broadcast has featured a stable of prominent journalists and has been recognized with several awards, including multiple Emmy Awards, for its reporting and coverage.

History and development

The program was launched on January 9, 2012, under the leadership of executive producer Chris Licht, replacing the long-running The Early Show. This overhaul was part of a broader strategy by CBS News president David Rhodes to redefine the network's morning offering with a greater emphasis on journalism over softer lifestyle segments. The initial anchor team consisted of Charlie Rose, Gayle King, and Erica Hill, broadcasting from a newly designed studio at the CBS Broadcast Center. A significant format change occurred in 2016 when the broadcast expanded to a three-hour format, adding an additional hour of programming. Further evolution came in 2021 when the program was rebranded as CBS Mornings and relocated to a new studio in Times Square, though it remains part of the same programming lineage.

Format and segments

The broadcast is structured around a blend of breaking news, political reporting, and feature stories, deliberately minimizing the traditional cooking and entertainment segments common to the genre. A hallmark of the program is its "Eye Opener" segment, a rapid-paced visual summary of top stories at the beginning of each hour. The format heavily emphasizes long-form interviews with newsmakers, authors, and cultural figures, a legacy of the segment formerly hosted by Charlie Rose. Other regular features include in-depth reports from CBS News correspondents like David Begnaud and Jan Crawford, as well as contributions from the network's flagship investigative unit, 60 Minutes. The program also incorporates reporting from its sister programs, including CBS Evening News and Face the Nation.

On-air personalities

The primary anchor team consists of Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson, who took over the main chairs following the departure of previous anchors. King, a longtime fixture, is also an editor for O, The Oprah Magazine and co-hosted The Oprah Winfrey Show. Dokoupil, a former senior writer for Newsweek, joined after serving as a national correspondent. Burleson, a former NFL wide receiver and analyst for the NFL Network, brought a unique perspective upon his arrival. Notable past anchors include Charlie Rose, whose interview segment was a centerpiece until his dismissal in 2017, and Norah O'Donnell, who later became anchor of the CBS Evening News. The program's news readers and contributors have included Vladimir Duthiers and Anne-Marie Green.

Reception and ratings

The program has been critically praised for its serious journalistic tone, earning accolades such as the Edward R. Murrow Award for overall excellence. It has consistently been the third-place program in the competitive morning show ratings race, behind the long-dominant Today on NBC and Good Morning America on ABC. However, it has carved out a loyal viewership and has occasionally seen ratings growth, particularly during major news events like presidential elections or the COVID-19 pandemic. Industry analysts from publications like The New York Times and Variety have often highlighted the broadcast's quality of reporting despite its smaller overall audience compared to its rivals.

Notable moments and coverage

The broadcast has been the site of significant interviews and news breaks, including a widely-viewed 2019 interview with R. Kelly conducted by Gayle King following the singer's indictment. It provided extensive live coverage of pivotal events such as the January 6 Capitol attack, the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden, and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The program also secured the first network television interview with Anthony Fauci at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, its reporting team, including correspondents like Chip Reid and Major Garrett, has delivered award-winning coverage from conflict zones like Ukraine and provided analysis during Supreme Court confirmations, including those of Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Category:2012 American television series debuts Category:CBS network shows Category:American morning television news programs