Brian Williams Says ‘60 Minutes’ Could ‘Use a New Coat of Paint’

Brian Williams believes the long-running CBS news magazine "60 Minutes" could benefit from a facelift, suggesting the program should be broadcast all year round instead of taking summer breaks. Williams made these comments during a discussion with veteran television producer Jonathan Wald at the inaugural Status Summit in New York.

The idea of a 52-week-a-year broadcast stems from the tradition set by "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt, who took a break from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. Williams attributed the summer hiatus to Hewitt's love of tennis, joking that Hewitt would play during those months and return to work afterwards. "60 Minutes" is set to start its 59th season this Sunday with new executive producer Nick Bilton, following a significant overhaul at CBS News.

The program boasts a core correspondent lineup including Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, Jon Wertheim, Norah O'Donnell and Ross Douthat, alongside various new contributors. Williams and Wald also addressed the broader shift in traditional television. Williams, who previously anchored "NBC Nightly News" and hosted MSNBC's "The 11th Hour," stated that linear TV is no longer relevant in today's media landscape.

Wald, on the other hand, sees the disruption of traditional media as an opportunity, citing platforms like Beehiiv and Substack as evidence of the changing environment. He believes the collapse of the traditional network system has created unprecedented opportunities for journalists and creators. Despite Williams' and Wald's perspectives on the future of television journalism, both remain optimistic about the industry.

Williams praised foreign correspondents like CNN's Clarissa Ward and NBC News' Richard Engel, calling them "national treasures." When asked directly if he remains optimistic about the future of news, Williams affirmed, "Yes. As long as there are stories and people to tell them, as long as there's an audience."