By Prince Hakeem
Hip-HopVibe.com Staff Writer
CBS anchor and Oprah best friend Gayle King most definitely secured a whole new bag in her her contact re-up. According to multiple reports, King just negotiated a new contract where she’ll be making more than double her current salary.
via Page Six:
Amid a massive overhaul of CBS’ morning show and evening news broadcasts, King will continue to host “CBS This Morning,” as we first reported.
We’re told her new deal is a huge boost from her current $5 million a year.
One network insider said King could be making even more.
As we reported, King — who toyed with leaving the network — went into the negotiations for her new salary looking for “Stephanopoulos money,” a reference to George Stephanopoulos’ recent ABC deal worth between $15 million and $18 million.
King’s BFF Oprah Winfrey this week revealed she had told King to go for broke.
“I said, ‘Get what you want. Get exactly what you want, because now’s the time. And if you don’t get what you want, then make the next right move,’?” the media mogul told The Hollywood Reporter — saying she had even pushed King’s attorney for her pal.
King will stay on “This Morning,” while her co-host Norah O’Donnell will leave the show and is poised to take over as anchor of “CBS Evening News,” pushing Jeff Glor out of the gig, as we first reported.
The Post has reported that King — riding high off her big interview with R. Kelly and her inclusion on the Time 100 Most Influential People list — allegedly demanded that O’Donnell be sent somewhere else.
CBS News president Susan Zirinsky denied that King had anything to do with O’Donnell leaving the morning show. King will be introducing her at the Matrix Awards in Manhattan on Monday.
All the remaining lineup changes are set to be announced on air Monday morning, a source confirmed to us.
Meanwhile, O’Donnell said Friday — with King and fellow co-host John Dickerson MIA — “We are reading lots of things with great interest. I just want you to know we will address them on Monday, when Gayle is back here — and John as well.”
Besides King, the new morning lineup is set to include “CBS This Morning: Saturday” co-anchor Anthony Mason and CBS News correspondent Tony Dokoupil, a source said. Dickerson will move to “60 Minutes” in a political role.
