Nick Bilton, appointed as the new executive producer of "60 Minutes," faces the challenge of revitalizing the venerable newsmagazine amidst a demoralized staff and high operating costs. Bilton, a technology reporter, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker, is taking over a show that has seen significant personnel changes, including the departures of correspondents Anderson Cooper, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Cecilia Vega, along with former executive producer Tanya Simon and executive editor Draggan Mihailovich. These exits have left the show with only four correspondents, down from seven, prompting concerns about staffing levels and the ability to maintain the program's in-depth reporting.
The turmoil intensified with a heated confrontation between Bilton and veteran correspondent Scott Pelley, who accused CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of "murdering" the show. Pelley also questioned the recent firings, though Bilton stated these decisions predated his arrival. The internal strife follows a period where previous management at Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit with the Trump administration, an action many viewed as flimsy and tied to an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. This settlement, made as Paramount pursued its sale to Skydance, led to the exits of senior CBS News executives Bill Owens and Wendy McMahon.
Bilton's mandate from Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski is to expand "60 Minutes" beyond its one-hour broadcast and deepen its role across CBS News, aiming for a "new approach" to thrive in the 21st century. This comes despite the show's consistent viewership, attracting up to 10 million people weekly and seeing a 9% increase in overall viewership in its last season. The program also generated between $67 million and $69 million in advertising revenue in both 2024 and 2025, being a significant platform for healthcare and pharmaceutical advertisers. However, the high costs of production, with correspondents earning up to $5 million annually and individual stories costing around $75,000, add pressure on Bilton to deliver content efficiently while restoring morale among a staff reportedly engaging in "self-censorship."
