NEW YORK (AP) ā With his show involved in a bitter dispute with President Donald Trump, the top executive at the storied CBS News show ā60 Minutesā abruptly resigned on Tuesday while saying he's losing the freedom to run it independently.
Bill Owens, executive producer of television's most popular and influential newsmagazine since 2019, said in a note to staff that it has ābecome clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it, to make independent decisions based on what was right for '60 Minutes,' right for the audience.ā
āThe show is too important to the country,ā he wrote. āIt has to continue, just not with me as the executive producer.ā
Trump sued ā60 Minutesā for $20 billion last fall, an interview with his Democratic election opponent Kamala Harris. CBS denied it had done anything to give an advantage to Harris, and of its interview.
When Trump took office for his second term, his Federal Communications Commission chairman, Brendan Carr, announced CBS would be investigated for the same issue.
At the same time, CBS parent Paramount Global, run by Shari Redstone, is seeking approval for a merger with Skydance Media, founded by Larry Ellison. They are reportedly in mediation to settle the lawsuit with Trump, a prospect that has been bitterly opposed by Owens and others at ā60 Minutes.ā
With this backdrop, ā60 Minutesā has run about the new administration since it took office. The president on social media after its April 13 episode featured critical stories about Ukraine and Greenland, saying CBS should āpay a big priceā for going after him.
Owens was the third executive producer at the Sunday night newsmagazine, known for its ticking stopwatch. Only Don Hewitt, the show's founder, and Jeff Fager preceded him. Owens did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Tuesday. Owens has worked at CBS News for 37 years, 25 of them at ā60 Minutes.ā
āHaving defended this show ā and what we stand for ā from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward,ā he said in the memo.
CBS News' top executive, Wendy McMahon, said in a statement that Owens āhas led ā60 Minutesā with unwavering integrity, curiosity and a deep commitment to the truth. He has championed the kind of journalism that informs, enlightens and often changes the national conversation.ā
It was not immediately clear if any particular event triggered the decision, or if Owens was told he had to leave.
ā60 Minutesā is famously insular, run as an independent fiefdom within CBS News, and Owens said that McMahon agrees that he should be replaced by a current producer there. His top deputy is Tanya Simon, daughter of the late ā60 Minutesā .
Trump has battled the press on several levels since taking office again. The FCC is investigating several media companies, the administration is working to and other government-run outlets, and The Associated Press has for reducing its access to events because it has not renamed the Gulf of Mexico in line with Trump's executive order.
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David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at and
David Bauder, The Associated Press
