Critics rip CBS over decision to cut Queen’s funeral to air ‘The Price Is Right’

All different main networks caught with their protection of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday.
CBS

CBS Information insiders slammed the struggling community over its tone-deaf resolution to chop brief protection of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in an effort to air episodes of “Let’s Make a Deal” and “The Value Is Proper.”

Like its rivals, CBS began TV protection of the funeral at 5:30 a.m., however co-hosts Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell wrapped up the community’s reporting on the historic funeral at 10 a.m.,  chopping to programming that included the pre-taped recreation exhibits.

In the meantime, NBC Information, ABC Information, CNN, BBC and others caught the procession to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Citadel, which wrapped up round midday.

“That is appalling. I’m speechless,” stated one CBS insider. “That is historical past. It is a enormous occasion. When you've got a authentic information division and also you wish to develop and present your self as being legit, you need to cowl historical past.”

Critics slammed CBS Information for chopping from its protection of the Queen’s historic funeral to broadcast an episode of “The Value Is Proper.”

CBS

“That is the decline of CBS. The community is waving the white flag,” the supply added. “Even [upstart network] NewsNation coated it!”

Viewers additionally took to Twitter to name out the choice.

“CBS stated the Queen’s funeral is NOT extra necessary than The Value is Proper,” tweeted one person, together with a GIF of actuality star Nene Leaks snapping.

“NBC and ABC are preempting all of their morning programming from 530 am to midday ET for the Queen’s funeral. CBS goes forward with the season premiere of Value Is Proper.” wrote one other.

One CBS insider pressured the struggling community ought to have maintained protection of the funeral to point out the community was “legit.”

CBS

“RIP Queen Elizabeth II Cable information is protecting her dying, as is ABC and NBC, whereas CBS is airing a rerun of ‘Let’s Make A Deal,'” tweeted a person.

Whereas CBS Information did lower its TV broadcast of the funeral, protection continued on its streaming companies Paramount+ and CBS Information Streaming Community. Viewers on the West Coast noticed King proceed her TV protection dwell from London for “CBS Mornings” earlier than getting an episode of “The Value Is Proper.” East Coast viewers noticed back-to-back episodes of “Let’s Make a Deal” and “The Value Is Proper.”

Insiders guessed that CBS made a enterprise resolution to maintain with its frequently scheduled programming in an effort to maintain on to promoting dollars versus airing one uninterrupted, commercial-free particular report.

“The information division provided steady protection starting at 5:30am in the course of the occasions to our broadcast and streaming retailers,” a CBS spokesperson informed The Submit.

Sources surmised that CBS made a enterprise resolution when it determined to chop brief its protection of the funeral.

CBS

The community, which continues to slim down budgets below co-presidents Neeraj Khemlani and Wendy McMahon, has been present process a restructuring amid tanking morale. Sources griped to The Submit that the sharp-elbowed Khemlani has “lower the community to the bone,” urgent workers to “do extra with much less” cash.

Though Khemlani has wielded the ax over the previous 12 months, one supply blamed CBS CEO George Cheeks, who has final say over programming.

“It’s like ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ commercials are extra necessary than journalism,” the supply stated. “It exhibits Cheeks’ precedence is enterprise over information. CBS simply misplaced the respect of the information gods.”