Bill Owens, the former executive producer of the long-running CBS news program 60 Minutes, is exploring plans to develop a competing in-depth news series that would feature Scott Pelley and several other correspondents and producers who have recently departed the show, according to individuals familiar with the discussions, according to the New York Post.
Owens stepped down from his role at 60 Minutes last year during a period of tension between CBS and then-President Donald Trump. The friction stemmed from claims surrounding the editing of an interview with Kamala Harris that aired shortly before the November 2024 presidential election. Paramount, the parent company of CBS at the time, was in the process of resolving related legal matters when Owens left the position.
Sources indicate that Owens is seeking approximately 50 million dollars to finance two years of production for a series focused on investigative and long-form reporting. The funding would cover staffing, production costs, marketing efforts, and legal expenses. For such a project to move forward, participants drawn from the ranks of former 60 Minutes personnel would likely need to accept significantly reduced compensation compared with their previous earnings under the established network model.
Among those potentially involved are Pelley, who left the program in June following public disagreements with CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and the show’s new executive producer, Nick Bilton. Pelley had expressed strong objections to leadership decisions during internal meetings. Other names mentioned in connection with the effort include former correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, former executive producer Tanya Simon, and senior producers Guy Campanile, Draggan Mihailovich, and Matthew Polevoy.
The initiative arises against a backdrop of substantial changes at 60 Minutes. Weiss has overseen a broad restructuring of the program in recent months, aimed at refreshing its approach and responding to longstanding critiques regarding perceived ideological leanings. Four of the seven correspondents from the previous season have exited. Bilton, who assumed the executive producer role, has faced challenges in assembling a new team of senior producers and preparing the show for its September return to the air. Higher-level concerns have been noted regarding his limited prior television production experience, even as he has brought in new contributors such as Ross Douthat, Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni, Trevor Phillips, and Norah O’Donnell.
Owens had floated a similar concept earlier in the year but encountered obstacles related to financing and distribution. In recent weeks, a group of the departed staff members has prepared a formal business plan and presentation materials. The proposed program is envisioned as a documentary-style offering for streaming services or digital platforms, emphasizing rigorous reporting rather than lighter discussion formats.
Securing a distribution partner remains a significant hurdle. Major streaming companies such as Netflix, Apple, and YouTube, along with traditional networks, have shown limited enthusiasm for funding high-cost news magazines of this type. One potential avenue discussed by observers is Netflix, given competitive dynamics involving Paramount Skydance and its anticipated combination with Warner Bros. Discovery. Industry participants note that while there is little demand for expansive news programming overall, a carefully budgeted and focused series might attract interest.
If a substantial streaming commitment does not materialize, the project would need to operate on a more constrained budget. Building a sustainable audience through subscriptions or advertising on platforms such as YouTube presents its own difficulties, as viewership and revenue metrics in the digital space can be unpredictable. Sponsorship opportunities could provide additional support, though scaling to a viable level would require consistent engagement.
Historical precedents offer mixed signals. CBS previously attempted a sports-focused counterpart to HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel through a 60 Minutes Sports series launched in partnership with Showtime in 2013. That effort concluded in 2017 after struggling to attract a sufficiently large viewership. Real Sports itself continued until 2023, when its host retired after nearly three decades.
Owens has not commented publicly on the discussions, and other former 60 Minutes staff members have similarly not responded to inquiries. A person close to Owens has rejected the notion of active plans. Nonetheless, the combination of recent personnel departures, ongoing transitions at the original program, and the enduring appeal of the investigative format continues to generate industry attention around the possibility of a rival project. Whether the necessary capital and platform partnerships can be assembled remains uncertain, and success would depend on navigating both financial realities and audience expectations in a crowded media environment.
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