Gayle King’s deal negotiations at CBS are taking so long that staff now fear there’s not enough money to keep her.
The star is working on a new deal to stay on “CBS This Morning.”
As we revealed, she is in talks to double her current $5.5 million annual salary.
And while the contract was expected to be wrapped up earlier this month, it’s still not done. A high-level source told Page Six: “It’s not like CBS News can all of a sudden find ABC or NBC money — it has to come from somewhere.”
It’s been suggested that Susan Zirinsky, the new CBS News president, has been given an extra pot of cash to spend on talent.
But, our source added: “There’s not that much!”
Despite this, we’re reliably informed that the contract is in the hands of lawyers.
Another CBS News source said: “The big priority is keeping Gayle. The only thing that would really hurt CBS News at the moment is losing her.”
So much so, we’re told, that bigwigs are set to keep Jeff Glor on the network’s “Evening News” broadcast — even though King’s co-host Norah O’Donnell has been rumored to be taking the anchor role with the newscast potentially moving to Washington, DC.
The source said: “The morning show is the big priority.”
We asked King about her contract negotiations last week during Variety’s Power of Women luncheon, but she remained tight-lipped. “I never ever discuss contracts in the media,” she told us. “I think the best place to discuss a contract is with CBS.”
The news vet’s profile has recently skyrocketed after a blockbuster interview with R. Kelly, when she remained calm as the singer went ballistic.
The moment went viral and, oddly, even Kelly’s team was pleased. “I think he is open to another sit-down at a later date,” King exclusively told us last week.
Reps did not get back to us.