The Powers That Be: Daily Media Monday: Bari’s Bloodletting & An MLB Wild Pitch
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Mar 23, 2026 They debate recent high-profile newsroom cuts and what it means for legacy media operations. They explore consolidation scenarios and whether bigger networks will absorb production. They unpack surprising World Baseball Classic ratings and discuss how the tournament could boost baseball’s global growth.
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CBS Is Shrinking Legacy News To Chase Digital Audiences
- CBS News must shrink costly legacy infrastructure to invest in digital audiences.
- Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby note CBS is cutting ~60 staff and retiring CBS News Radio as part of a structural pivot to newer platforms.
Under 40s Prefer Influencer Footage Over Network Bureaus
- Younger news consumers often prefer on-the-ground TikTok or vlogger footage over traditional network bureaus.
- Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby explain that influencers and citizen journalists can fulfill local on-scene demand, undermining expensive global infrastructure.
Manage Decline By Prioritizing Profitability Over Scale
- Manage decline by cutting costs and focusing on profitability rather than preserving scale.
- Jon Kelly recommends making news divisions leaner and more efficient to survive declining linear TV economics.