FIRST OFF . . .

At CBS News, where morale dived after a $30-million budget cut and the axing of 215 employees last March, rumors of an even larger cut and a change of venue (to Washington, D.C.) circulated Tuesday--and were strongly denied by CBS. According to one network insider, CBS chairman Laurence A. Tisch reportedly wants an additional $55-million cut from CBS News’ budget and the division’s headquarters moved from New York to Washington as a cost-cutting measure. “Definitely not,” CBS spokesman George Schweitzer said of the rumored $55-million cut. However, some within the news division recalled that early this year Tisch was quoted as calling “ludicrous” a published report that he wanted up to $50 million whacked from CBS News’ budget of $300 million. Several weeks later, the $30-million ax fell.