Scott Pelley Out at CBS; Megyn Kelly May Be Factor

Scott Pelley is out as the anchor of CBS Evening News, and Megyn Kelly's anticipated new Sunday night show on NBC might have something to do with it. Kelly's show debuts this weekend, and a wary CBS is looking to beef up 60 Minutes, which runs at the same time, reports the New York Times. Pelley is seen as a big part of that strategy, and he is moving full time to 60 Minutes. The New York Post's Page Six first reported that Pelley is out as the evening news anchor, a seat he has held since replacing Katie Couric in 2011. The Post, however, suggests that friction between Pelley and CBS News president David Rhodes is the main issue.

Either way, the move takes effect immediately. Pelley's office was being cleaned out while he's on assignment for 60 Minutes in the Middle East. Guest anchors will fill in until a permanent replacement is named, though Politico reports that Pelley is expected to return at least once to say farewell to viewers. Not helping his cause: CBS regularly trails ABC and NBC in the evening news ratings, and things had gotten even worse in 2017. Kelly's show, Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly, debuts 7pm Eastern on Sunday, notes USA Today, with a news magazine format. (More CBS News stories.)