The former CBS News president David Rhodes is in talks to return to his previous role as president of CBS News if the Skydance acquisition of Paramount Global is completed according to Puck.
The former CBS News president David Rhodes who served as president from 2011 to 2019 and worked at Fox News in a senior position stands as the top choice to lead the news division under Skydance leadership. The advisory role at the news organization could potentially include Bari Weiss who co-founded the online news outlet Free Press.
CBS along with Skydance and Paramount Global refused to provide any statements about the matter. The inquiries sent to Rhodes received no response from him.
The report emerges during a time of significant transformation at CBS. The network made public its decision to end ”The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in May 2026 because of financial difficulties.
The regulatory process for Paramount Global to acquire Skydance through an $8.4 billion merger remains active. The proposed merger faces scrutiny because it could result in leadership changes throughout CBS divisions.
The settlement of the lawsuit between Paramount Global and Donald Trump occurred this month after Trump sued over his 2024 interview with Kamala Harris on “60 Minutes.” The merger process becomes less complicated because of this settlement.
The return of Rhodes to CBS News would indicate a fundamental shift in the network’s news operations while the organization faces political challenges and media industry transformations.
