CBS brings in former ‘Nightline’ EP as ‘Evening’ and ‘Mornings’ continue to underperform

CBS News has brought in former ABC News “Nightline” executive producer Steven Baker as a consultant and adviser to its daily news programs as the network works to improve the performance of “CBS Mornings” and “CBS Evening News.”

Baker joined CBS News earlier this week and will work directly with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, according to Variety. 

“Steve’s going to be working with me directly as a consultant and advisor on our daily news programs,” Cibrowski told staffers. He said Baker would work with the programs’ leadership, including Jon Tower at “CBS Mornings” and Kim Harvey at “CBS Evening News,” and bring new ideas to the broadcasts.

Baker previously served as executive producer of ABC News’ “Nightline,” where he experimented with extending the program beyond its traditional late-night format. That included developing an hourlong “Nightline” special for Freeform aimed at younger audiences and overseeing a monthlong “Turning Point” takeover of the program’s time slot in 2020 focused on race relations in the United States.

More recently, Baker worked with former ABC News President James Goldston on a nonfiction division at Candle Media.

His arrival adds another former ABC News executive to CBS. Cibrowski previously held senior roles at ABC News and was involved in the period when “Good Morning America” overtook NBC’s “Today” in the ratings.

Former ABC News journalist Matt Gutman joined CBS News in 2026, while former ABC News executive Wendy Fisher oversees newsgathering and weather coverage across CBS News and its owned stations.

Baker joins CBS as its flagship morning and evening broadcasts continue to trail ABC and NBC. “CBS Mornings” averaged about 1.6 million viewers during the third quarter of 2026, including 256,000 adults ages 25-54, according to Nielsen data cited by Variety.

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“CBS Evening News” has posted a modest year-over-year audience increase, but its overall viewership remains below levels recorded before Norah O’Donnell left the anchor desk in early 2025.