CBS News Hired Former ABC Producer Steven Baker
The veteran executive producer joins the network as a consultant to help boost morning and evening news ratings.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Television
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CBS News has appointed former Nightline executive producer Steven Baker as a consultant. Baker will advise leadership at the network as it seeks to improve the ratings for its daily morning and evening news programs.
Why it matters
The network is attempting to move its flagship news broadcasts out of third place in the ratings. By bringing in industry veterans, leadership hopes to refine the editorial direction of both CBS Mornings and the CBS Evening News.
CBS Mornings averaged 1.6 million total viewers during the third quarter of 2026. Within the key 25 to 54 demographic, the program reached an average of 256,000 viewers.
The players
Steven Baker
He is a former executive producer at ABC News Nightline who recently joined CBS News as a consultant.
Tom Cibrowski
He serves as the President of CBS News and oversees the network's broader editorial and broadcast strategy.
Wendy Fisher
She oversees newsgathering and weather coverage for the network, coordinating operations across various platforms.
Jon Tower
He is the executive responsible for overseeing the daily operations and production of CBS Mornings.
Kim Harvey
She oversees the editorial content and production management of the CBS Evening News.
The details
Baker will work closely with programming leaders including Jon Tower, who oversees CBS Mornings, and Kim Harvey, who manages CBS Evening News. The network is currently integrating segments like The Big Question and The Good Stuff into its evening lineup to drive viewership growth.
Timeline
In 2020, Baker orchestrated a timeslot takeover for Nightline.
In 2023, NBC News named Rebecca Blumenstein president of editorial.
In early 2025, Norah ODonnell left CBS Evening News.
In 2026, Matt Guttman joined the staff at CBS News.
During Q3 2026, CBS Mornings averaged 1.6 million viewers.
Industry Dynamics
This strategic hire follows a period of significant executive turnover across major television networks, including the 2023 appointment of Rebecca Blumenstein as NBC News president of editorial. CBS is now looking to similar industry veterans to reverse recent trends and secure a more competitive position in the broadcast landscape.
Viewers can expect to see format changes as the network integrates new segments like The Big Question and The Good Stuff into its regular programming. These shifts are designed to impact the daily viewing experience for morning and evening news consumers across the country.
The takeaway
The move underscores the intense pressure major networks face to capture audience attention in an increasingly crowded media market. Success for the network will depend on whether these new editorial strategies can effectively resonate with a changing daily news audience.
Further reading
For more on shifts in the broadcast landscape, visit the Television section.
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