Gayle King is about to get paid some serious money — and it’s all said to be for just one hour’s worth of work per week!
As previously revealed by Deadline, King and Charles Barkley are believed to have been in talks with CNN to front their very own primetime show, which is expected to run once a week. Sources claimed that King, who is one of the long-running co-hosts on “CBS Mornings,” was nearing the completion of her deal to sign on for the project over at CNN, but what we didn’t know at the time is how much Oprah Winfrey’s best friend is believed to be pocketing.
Per Radar Online, King will become the highest-paid star on the network, earning at least $12 million a year. It should be noted that details pertaining to the upcoming primetime program are still being worked out, so things could still change, but what won’t be changing is King’s salary. Hiring King is supposed to be a desperate effort from CNN to try and improve its ratings, which have been on a continuous decline from year to year.
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The company is still reportedly trying to work out their deal with Barkley, but bagging him won’t be cheap either considering he’s already making a reported $10 million a year at TNT where he co-hosts “NBA on TNT” in a deal worth around $100 million. Should CNN be able to secure Barkley, he and King will undoubtedly be two of the highest-paid people on the network. “Gayle will not only be the highest paid person at CNN but she and Charles will also be the highest paid on-air pair,” a source said. “It will also make Gayle one of the highest people on television when you add her CBS contract into the mix.”
In 2011, Gayle King made the move to CBS, where she joined the cast of “CBS This Morning.” While the show had struggled in the ratings in the past, King’s arrival helped to turn things around. Her chemistry with co-hosts Charlie Rose and Norah O’Donnell was undeniable, and viewers quickly responded.
King’s rise to fame continued as she interviewed some of the biggest names in politics, entertainment, and culture. Her interviews with R. Kelly, Lisa Leslie, and Meghan Markle made headlines around the world and cemented her status as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
Her impact on CBS Morning’s ratings cannot be overstated. In the years since she joined the show, it has consistently been one of the top-rated morning shows on television. This is in stark contrast to other traditional talk shows, which have seen a decline in ratings in recent years.
One of the reasons for this is the format of CBS Morning. Rather than relying on sensationalistic stories and celebrity gossip, the show focuses on in-depth interviews and thoughtful discussions of current events. This has resonated with viewers who are looking for more substance in their morning news shows.
As mentioned, traditional talk shows have seen a decline in ratings in recent years. This is in part due to changing viewer habits and the rise of social media as a source of news and entertainment. However, it is also due to a shift in what viewers are looking for in their morning shows.
King’s format, which focuses on substantive interviews and thoughtful discussion, is a direct response to this shift. Rather than relying on sensationalistic stories and celebrity gossip, King and her co-hosts provide viewers with a deeper understanding of the news and events that are shaping our world.