Bianna Golodryga out as co-host at ‘CBS This Morning’
CBS News has confirmed that Bianna Golodryga has left her role as co-host at “CBS This Morning,” the first of an expected wave of on-air changes under new division President Susan Zirinsky.
Zirinsky also named Diana Miller executive producer of the morning program. Miller was senior broadcast producer and has been running the program since the departure of Ryan Kadro in December.
Golodryga was added as a fourth co-host on the program in November. “CBS This Morning” is now back to three co-hosts: Gayle King, John Dickerson and Norah O’Donnell.
Zirinsky, who officially took the reins of the division in March, is attempting to revitalize the ratings of its morning program and evening newscast, which have lagged behind NBC and ABC.
Golodryga has not been seen on “CBS This Morning” since last week. Her absence was not explained to viewers until the end of the Thursday broadcast, when King mentioned that she had left the network and wished her well.
According to people familiar with the situation who were not authorized to comment publicly, Zirinsky wanted Golodryga to remain with the network in another role, but Golodryga chose to leave.
“I’ve enjoyed my time @CBSNews,” Golodryga said on Twitter, “but it is now the right moment for me to move on. I’m grateful for the friends and colleagues I’ve worked with @CBSThisMorning and wish everyone the best. On to the next chapter!”
Golodryga, who had been a contributor at CBS News, was added as a host to the morning program in October by former division President David Rhodes. The program’s ratings tumbled last year after host Charlie Rose was fired over sexual harassment allegations in November 2017.
Zirinsky is said to favor the program’s original format of three co-hosts.
Other changes are expected for the program after it completes a deal on a new contract with King, who has emerged as the breakout star of CBS News thanks to recent high-profile interviews with R&B star R. Kelly and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.
There have been discussions inside the news division about having O’Donnell replace Jeff Glor as the anchor of the “CBS Evening News.” But there have been no formal negotiations with her about the move.
Miller joined “CBS This Morning” in 2014 and became senior broadcast producer in 2016, overseeing the program’s editorial content. She began her career on CNN, where she worked on “Anderson Cooper 360.”
Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
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