CBS Mornings to Leave Times Square Studio Amid Cost-Cutting Measures

NEW YORK, March 21, 2025 — CBS Mornings is set to relocate from its prominent Times Square studio back to the CBS Broadcast Center in Manhattan later this year, driven by cost-cutting measures within the news division.

The flagship morning show, co-hosted by Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson, has been based in the Times Square studio since its rebranding in September 2021. A CBS spokesperson confirmed the move, which was first reported by the New York Post, highlighting the network’s ongoing initiatives to trim expenses amid shrinking ratings.

Insiders have pointed out that the decision to return to the Broadcast Center is primarily about saving money, with one source stating, “It’s all about saving money. This is another example of them not competing.” CBS Mornings has consistently faced challenges in ratings, finishing in third place behind NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America.

According to Nielsen ratings, CBS Mornings recently attracted 1.869 million viewers overall but only 332,000 in the key Adults 25-54 demographic. The show’s struggles reflect a broader trend in the network’s news division, which is under pressure to cut $500 million from its budget ahead of a proposed merger with Skydance Media.

Since moving to the Times Square studio, which was once home to MTV‘s Total Request Live, CBS has seen changes in executive leadership, including the recent departure of CBS News President Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews and the rise of Adrienne Roark. Under Roark’s leadership, CBS has focused on restructuring and utilizing local news stations for reporting to mitigate costs.

The upcoming move will see CBS Mornings sharing a smaller studio with CBS Evening News. Sources have indicated that the new arrangement poses certain logistical challenges, especially when it comes to accommodating interviews with high-profile guests.

“The studio is much smaller,” one insider noted. “There’s no space for couches for when the morning show hosts interview A-listers.” This also contrasts with the original vision for the Times Square studio, which aimed to leverage its iconic location for high-quality productions.

The feeling within the CBS News team appears to be one of apprehension as the network continues to face competitive pressure. “The atmosphere at CBS News is one of fear,” one source explained. “Nobody opens their mouths because they are scared of losing their jobs.” CBS News declined to provide further comments regarding the transition.

Both CBS and ABC have historically sought high-visibility locations in Manhattan to attract viewers for their morning shows. NBC’s Today show has benefitted from its street-level studio at Rockefeller Plaza since 1994, while ABC’s Good Morning America has been a staple of Times Square since 1999.

As CBS prepares for the shift back to the Broadcast Center, the future of its morning programming remains uncertain amidst a highly competitive landscape and a shifting media environment, where traditional television viewership continues to decline.