CBS News Hires Nick Bilton to Pivot 60 Minutes as Ratings Rise 9%

9 articles · Updated · CNBC · May 28

Nick Bilton, a former New York Times tech columnist and documentary maker, will replace Tanya Simon as executive producer of “60 Minutes” and unveil his plan in a few weeks.
Bilton said CBS is moving while the show is still strong—Nielsen says ratings rose 9% from a year earlier—because broadcast TV could face delayed disruption from new technology.
His appointment lands amid newsroom distrust over politically motivated changes, especially after Paramount settled Donald Trump’s 2024 lawsuit over a Kamala Harris interview for $16 million.
The shakeup follows Skydance’s takeover of Paramount and broader CBS programming changes, with Bilton insisting his hiring is not political and that the show will keep holding power to account.

As veteran journalists exit, can a tech outsider revive '60 Minutes' or will its legacy of independence be compromised?

Is the CBS News overhaul a real strategy for the digital age or a pawn in a massive media merger?