Former 60 Minutes producer reportedly plans rival news show with ex-CBS staff
Bill Owens, a former producer of CBS’s 60 Minutes, is said to be seeking $50 million to launch a competing hour-long current-affairs program with journalists and producers who left the network after Bari Weiss became editor-in-chief.
A former producer of CBS News’s flagship program 60 Minutes is reportedly preparing a pitch for a new hour-long current-affairs series that would feature journalists and production staff who departed the network after Bari Weiss took over as editor-in-chief. Bill Owens, who left the show in April, is said to be looking for $50 million in financing and to be presenting the concept to major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV and YouTube.
The proposed lineup includes former 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley and ex-correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, as well as former executive producer Tanya Simon and senior producers Guy Campanile, Draggan Mihailovich and Matthew Polevoy. A source close to Owens denied the existence of a formal plan, and Owens himself declined to comment, but other sources indicated that a business plan and pitch deck have been prepared.
Industry insiders note that securing a streaming partner would be essential, as the project would likely require a reduced budget compared with the traditional 60 Minutes model. One insider said, "I think they’re asking for too much money. They’re looking at the old 60 Minutes model and they’re all used to mega salaries."
Weiss’s tenure at CBS has been marked by internal disputes and several high-profile departures, including the dismissal of Alfonsi, Vega and Simon earlier this year. The changes have been linked to disagreements over editorial decisions and perceived bias, prompting criticism from former staff members.
The new venture, if funded, would need to attract a subscriber base from scratch, a challenge for any entrant in the crowded streaming news market.