Media News Daily: Top Stories for 10/26/2025

Bari Weiss Considers Bret Baier to Revamp CBS Evening News

CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss is reportedly exploring a bold shake-up of the CBS Evening News by considering Fox News anchor Bret Baier for the anchor chair. Baier, currently under contract with Fox News through 2028 with a $14 million annual salary, is seen as an unlikely acquisition, but the move signals Weiss’s intent to shift CBS editorially. Other potential candidates include CNN’s Anderson Cooper and current CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell. Weiss’s recent appointment and restructuring at CBS, amid internal layoffs, have stirred concern among staff due to her limited experience in broadcast journalism. Read More (Mediaite Rating)

Pew: News Consumption Often Triggers Negative Emotions

A new study by the Pew Research Center reveals that many Americans feel that consuming news mostly evokes negative emotions rather than positive ones. The findings suggest growing concern about the emotional impact of daily news, which may reflect broader dissatisfaction with the media’s tone and content. Read More (Pew Research Rating)

Breakneck Media Shakeups: WBD Sale, NBA Bets, and Netflix Growth

The media industry is undergoing dramatic shifts, with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announcing it is exploring a potential sale amid unsolicited acquisition interest. This follows a failed bid for NBA media rights after a 36-year partnership. Meanwhile, Comcast’s NBCUniversal is betting $27 billion over 11 years on NBA rights in a move analysts call a risky “Hail Mary” with projected early losses of up to $1.4 billion annually. Simultaneously, Netflix reports strong earnings growth, fueled by its ad business expansion. Read More (MediaPost Rating)