New '60 Minutes' head to pivot show before ratings drop

Vital Skydance’s CBS News has hired Nick Bilton as the new executive producer of “60 Minutes,” the No. 1 rated news broadcast for the past 52 years.

Bilton replaces Tanya Simon as the show’s executive producer, who had spent more than 30 years at “60 Minutes.”

Bilton has no experience running a TV news show, but he is a former New York Times technology columnist and has made several documentaries for HBO and Netflix.

Bilton told CNBC he first met CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss socially in Los Angeles and later worked with her on two documentaries — “Unknown: Killer Robots” and “Biggest Heist Ever.”

Vital Skydance Chief Executive Officer David Ellison is now trying to merge Vital with Warner Bros. Discovery, and he needs the Trump administration’s regulatory approval to complete the deal.

In 2024, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump sued “60 Minutes,” alleging the program deceptively edited an interview with his opponent, Kamala Harris.

Vital settled the lawsuit for $16 million, which upset some veteran “60 Minutes” employees, including longtime correspondent Scott Pelley.

Another notable anchor, Anderson Cooper, announced he was leaving the show earlier this month.

Bilton said in a phone interview on Thursday that he’s committed to proving his hiring isn’t a political maneuver.

“I will prove it with the work,” Bilton said. “I’m dedicated to holding people in power to account.”

The “60 Minutes” change is the latest major programming shakeup by CBS, which earlier this month aired its last episode of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” after 11 seasons, having declined to renew the show.

Bilton said Weiss is bringing him in now, while “60 Minutes” ratings are still rising — up 9% from the year prior, according to Nielsen — to pivot the show before it’s too late.

“It’s still the No. 1 news broadcast in America. But history tells you disruption doesn’t happen immediately when new technology comes along — it’s usually a few years later,” Bilton said.

Bilton declined to reveal how he plans to disrupt the show, though he said it won’t be a complete overhaul.

He said he wants to meet the employees of “60 Minutes” before revealing his plan “in a few weeks.”

Bilton’s lack of experience running a TV news show may be a challenge, but his background in documentaries and technology could bring a fresh perspective to “60 Minutes.”

According to the report, Bilton is committed to holding people in power to account, which is in line with the show’s tradition of investigative journalism.

The media environment is changing rapidly, with new technologies and streaming services emerging each year.

As Bilton noted, the best year of sales for Nokia was 2008, one year after the iPhone came out, and blogs emerged in 1997-98, with The New York Times having its best year of sales in 1999.

This shift may require “60 Minutes” to adapt and evolve to stay relevant.

The show’s ratings are still rising, but Bilton and Weiss are aware that disruption can happen suddenly, and they want to be prepared.

The future of “60 Minutes” is uncertain, but with Bilton at the helm, the show may be able to pivot and adapt to the changing media environment.

Only time will tell if Bilton’s vision for the show will be successful, but one thing is clear: “60 Minutes” is at a crossroads, and the decisions made now will shape its future.

As the show moves forward, it will be interesting to see how Bilton balances the need for change with the need to maintain the show’s tradition of investigative journalism.

For now, Bilton is focused on meeting with the employees of “60 Minutes” and revealing his plan for the show’s future.

According to Wikipedia, “60 Minutes” has been on the air since 1968, and it has a long history of investigative journalism.

The show has won numerous awards, including Peabody Awards and Emmy Awards, and it continues to be one of the most respected news programs in the United States.

As “60 Minutes” moves forward, it will be important for Bilton to balance the need for change with the need to maintain the show’s tradition of excellence.

For more information on CBS News and “60 Minutes“, visit the CBS News website.

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