https://nypost.com/2021/10/24/norah-odonnell-in-danger-of-losing-anchor-spot-at-cbs-evening-news/
O'Donnell, who has been anchor of CBS Evening News since July 2019, "now stands vulnerable to the network’s bean counters as her ratings have stayed stubbornly stuck in third place, the New York Post's Alexandra Steigrad reports, adding: "Insiders likewise pointed to O’Donnell’s hefty pay package that is in the ballpark of $8 million a year and a three-year contract that’s slated to expire next spring. She faces the possible heave-ho after CBS shelled out millions to move the evening broadcast to Washington, DC, from New York City to accommodate O’Donnell and her husband, chef Geoff Tracy, and their three children." Steigrad says new CBS News co-president Neeraj Khemlani has begun work to replace O'Donnell and move CBS Evening News back to New York City. Khemlani denied a potential move or anchor shakeup, telling The Post: “There are no plans to move the Evening News from Washington. Norah’s presence in Washington has elevated the CBS Evening News’ coverage on all fronts – politics, breaking news, to big interviews including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen just last week. Her reporting on the military and domestic abuse has won awards and changed policies in Washington. And in addition to making headlines, the program is gaining audience share.”
stevea
10-28-2021, 03:04 PM
https://nypost.com/2021/10/24/norah-odonnell-in-danger-of-losing-anchor-spot-at-cbs-evening-news/
...[CBS News co-pres.]Khemlani denied a potential move or anchor shakeup, telling The Post: “There are no plans to move the Evening News from Washington. Norah’s presence in Washington has elevated the CBS Evening News’ coverage on all fronts – politics, breaking news, to big interviews including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen just last week. Her reporting on the military and domestic abuse has won awards and changed policies in Washington. And in addition to making headlines, the program is gaining audience share.”
Translation: she's gone.
Report: CBS News used Brian Williams as leverage in renewing Norah O'Donnell's contract at a lower salary (https://www.thedailybeast.com/cbs-used-brian-williams-as-a-weapon-in-cash-battle-with-norah-odonnell/)
According to The Daily Beast, CBS News co-president Neeraj Khemlani floated a story of the former NBC Nightly News anchor being in contention (https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/24/media/brian-williams-cbs-news-reliable-sources/index.html) to replace the third-place O'Donnell as anchor of CBS Evening News in an effort to re-sign her at a much lower salary. In retaliation, O'Donnell's agent tried to get new CNN boss Chris Licht, who previously worked at CBS as Stephen Colbert's executive producer, to pitch her for a CNN gig. But Licht rebuffed her because he couldn't negotiate before starting his new job on Monday. Asked to respond, Khemlani said in a statement: “This is wrong. I never met with Brian Williams about the Evening News. Period.”
biffbronson
05-06-2022, 12:16 PM
I don't watch it all that often, but I wouldn't want to see her go. Norah is the most credible anchor they've had in some time...
Report: Norah O'Donnell's salary was slashed by more than half to remain CBS Evening News anchor (https://nypost.com/2022/06/02/norah-odonnells-salary-slashed-by-more-than-half-at-cbs-evening-news/)
Last month, The Daily Beast reported (https://www.thedailybeast.com/cbs-used-brian-williams-as-a-weapon-in-cash-battle-with-norah-odonnell/) that CBS News used Brian Williams as leverage to re-sign O'Donnell at a much lower salary. The New York Post's Alexandra Steigrad reports that O'Donnell agreed to CBS' "low ball" offer of $3.8 million per year, down from her previous $8 million. The Post reports CBS executive were surprised by O'Donnell agreeing to take a pay cut because the expected her to reject it. The Post also details an alleged feud between O'Donnell and Neeraj Khemlani, the "sharp-elbowed, cost-slashing" co-president of CBS News, who was reportedly behind wooing Brian Williams. The Post reports Khemlani reached out to NBC News' Craig Melvin and O'Donnell's CBS News colleague Tony Dokoupil. "Insiders said Dokoupil’s candidacy was particularly galling for O’Donnell, as Khemlani in January assigned the 41-year-old morning show host to anchor a special broadcast from Washington, DC, on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 capitol riots," says Steigrad. "And shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, CBS News again set tongues wagging by initially sending Dokoupil instead of O’Donnell to Poland to cover the unfolding war." A spokesperson for CBS News denied Khemlani was seeking to dump O’Donnell. “Wrong again. Neeraj led the effort to retain and re-sign about a dozen of our biggest anchors and correspondents over the last year including Norah O’Donnell and Gayle King — and recruited a few new ones like Nate Burleson and Robert Costa,” the spokesperson said. “While there are huge prime time openings elsewhere in the News industry, CBS News has the No. 1 news broadcasts and finished the season with multiple shows including morning and evenings in their most competitive position ever. Apparently, the more false stories the NY Post writes, the better things go for CBS News.” Because "she didn't have any options and he doesn't either," O'Donnell is still working for Khemlani, reports Steingrad.