Gayle King – CBS Employees Concerned Network Can’t Afford Her Pricey Contract

Gayle King – CBS Employees Concerned Network Can’t Afford Her Pricey Contract

Gayle King is riding a professional high these days, thanks largely in part to her highly-publicized sit-down interview with embattled singer/songwriter/producer R. Kelly. The interview was so well-received that King was recently in talks to ink a massive multi-mullion deal with the CBS network—but some employees are allegedly worried the deal may be too pricey.

Currently, Gayle King rakes in $5.5 million annually with CBS This Morning, but according to multiple reports, she is slated to sign a hefty new deal with the network that will make her one of the highest-paid black women in the morning news arena. While the exact figure hasn’t been publicized, it’s apparently large enough to have fellow CBS employees concerned that they may not have enough money to keep her, according to reports.

The contract negotiations are reportedly taking much longer than expected, which has raised concerns regarding the network’s financial ability to increase King’s salary. An inside source revealed that CBS can’t compete with other networks financially, saying,

“It’s not like CBS News can all of a sudden find ABC or NBC money — it has to come from somewhere.”

Rumors have been swirling that Susan Zirinsky, the new CBS News president, has been given an extended budget to spend on talent, which would include King, but other sources claim that “There’s not that much” money to spread around.

An additional source revealed that King is essential to the network:

“The big priority is keeping Gayle. The only thing that would really hurt CBS News at the moment is losing her. The morning show is the big priority.”

King was recently asked about her contract negotiations with CBS and this is how she responded:

“I never ever discuss contracts in the media. I think the best place to discuss a contract is with CBS.”

You can check out King’s interview with R. Kelly BELOW:

What do you think of Gayle King’s contract negotiations? Let us know in the comments!