Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, October 30th, 2025:
THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE NEXT STEP IN THE BARI WEISS REMAKE OF CBS NEWS
The NY Post is reporting that CBS has cancelled the show CBS Saturday Morning, as well as the digital shows CBS Morning Plus and CBS Evening News Plus:
The 28-year-old show, which airs nationwide on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET, has been slated for a radical revamp by CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss and the network’s president Tom Cibrowski, sources close to the situation said.
Co-anchors Michelle Miller, Dana Jacobson and the show’s executive producer Brian Applegate have been informed and are on their way out, sources close to the situation said.
It couldn’t immediately be learned when the final episode will air, including whether the show will broadcast this coming Saturday. It was also unclear whether CBS will seek to revive the broadcast in another form.
Cancelling several high-profile digital news shows at a time when the news industry is moving towards digital is certainly an interesting strategic decision. Which makes me suspect the two programs will be replaced by shows more to the liking of the new CBS News head.
As a side note, it's also worth noting that CBS News has cut it Race & Culture unit. Weiss has criticized the unit last year after members expressed unhappiness with an interview of Ta-Nehisi Coates by Tony Dokoupil, who argued Coates' book could "be in the backpack of an extremist." Dokoupil - who is married to MSNBC's Katy Tur - is rumored to be one of the candidates for anchor of the CBS Evening News.
FOX QUARTER BEATS EXPECTATIONS, TUBI MAKES A PROFIT
In an early morning call with analysts and reporters, Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said the company eclipsed Wall Street analysts’ expectations in its fiscal first quarter, reporting adjusted earnings per share of $1.51 and total revenue of $3.7 billion. That compared to the analysts consensus outlook was for earnings per share of $1.06 and revenue of $3.58 billion.
The company reported that ad revenue was sluggish, but the big surprise was news that the company's free, ad-supported streaming Tubi is now profitable. Describing Tubi as the "the top premium AVoD platform in the U.S.," Lachlan Murdoch said Tubi’s revenue had increased by 27% and viewing time was up 18%.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN CURATED LIVE TV BUNDLE, PART TWO
About a month ago, I wrote about my efforts to replace my Hulu Live TV with....well, anything that wasn't as frustrating as my experiences with Hulu. That peost continues to receive a lot of attention, and this is a comment I received about the piece yesterday:
This is an incredibly helpful breakdown of the streaming bundle options. The DirecTV MySports bundle plus Fox One/ESPN DTC combo for around $75 seems like a solid Hulu Live TV replacement for sports fans. What strikes me is how fragmented the market has become - needing three or four different services to replicate what cable used to offer in one package. The Tablo TV recommendation for OTA channels is smart, especially with the DVR functionality. I appreciate the honest assessment that replacing Hulu Live TV isn't always about saving money but rather getting exactly what you want without subsidizing channels you never watch.
That is ultimately the option I came up as a replacement for my Hulu Live TV subscription: The DirecTV Entertainment bundle for $34.99 a month, which comes with free ad-supported versions of Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max. The ESPN/FOX sports bundle runs $40 a month, so I am getting a lot of TV for $75 per month.
There are a couple of gaps - most notably, I don't have access with this bundle to TNT/TBS/TruTV. But since those live channels primarily air sports that are less important to my family, that's not having a big impact. And if it did, there are a couple of options I have to add those.
After using the DirecTV app for about a week, I have to say that I am really impressed with its design. It's a bit unfamiliar at first, but after some tweaking, I much prefer it to other options I've tried.
When you create your profile, you're shown a rundown of every available channel and asked to select your favorites. The interface then uses those selections to create a more useful rundown of suggested content and you can scroll through the channels, seeing what is currently airing on the channel without formally selecting it.
The DVR service is easy to use, as is the replay function, although everything seems to take maybe one more click than it seems as if it should. But so far, I have no major complaints and when it comes to Live TV, that is a welcome relief for me.
I've also become a big fan of Tablo TV and it does a nice job of providing all of my live channels, as well as a way to record programming. One caveat is that it works well for me because I live in an area where a simple over-the-air antenna grabs all the major local broadcast networks. If I lived in a more rural area, Tablo TV might be a lot less useful.
I also have PBS Passport, which you can get free access to with a recurring $5 a month donation to your local PBS station. The app includes more than 10,000 episodes of on-demand programming, as well as some live PBS TV feeds. Although since you can't record them, I'm more likely to either DVR them on Table or just watch the next day on demand. Ironically, the one thing I miss about my Hulu Live TV subscription is that I had access not just to my hometown Twin Cities PBS station, but also PBS Wisconsin, which had some great local programming I am going to miss.
One thing I would like to see are some smaller streamer bundles. Something such as a Hallmark+/AMC+ bundle. Or a science bundle of CuriosityStream & Magellan. I suspect we'll see that at some point, and when we do it will be great for both users as well as the streamers.
Do you have any questions about bundling TV services? I'll be posting another update next week, along with a complete rundown of Live TV services and every channel that is available on them. So reach out at
NBC ANNOUNCES ITS HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
NBC has announced its holiday schedule and it's a mix of new originals and some classic audience favorites:
Thursday, November 6th:
Wicked: One Wonderful Night
A thrillifying once-in-a-lifetime musical event celebrating the upcoming cinematic release of Universal Pictures’ film “Wicked: For Good.” The film’s stars, including three-time Academy Award®-nominated Cynthia Erivo and Academy Award®-nominated Ariana Grande, will lead the two-hour special featuring electrifying performances alongside their “Wicked: For Good” co-stars – for an unforgettable night of reimagined musical arrangements, cast interviews, behind-the-scenes moments, exclusive surprises and maybe even a sneak peek at what’s to come in the next chapter of Oz.
Wednesday, November 26th:
Countdown To The 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Broadcast live from the famous starting line on the eve of the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, viewers will get an exclusive first look at the incredible stories behind the floats, balloons and bands as they prepare to make their way through the streets of New York.
A Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving
The iconic late-night program will highlight memorable Thanksgiving-themed sketches.
Thursday, November 27th:
99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The 99th edition of the world-famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade brings its one-of-a-kind magic to New York City spectators and a national television audience with its exciting array of balloons, floats, marching bands, celebrities and more in America’s most watched entertainment telecast of the year.
National Dog Show Presented By Purina
NBC’s Thanksgiving Day tradition is hosted by John O’Hurley, former “Seinfeld” star and winner of “Dancing with the Stars,” along with expert analyst David Frei. Mary Carillo will offer a behind-the-scenes account of the competition.
Wednesday, December 3rd:
Christmas In Rockefeller Center
Hosted by Reba McEntire, the dazzling display of musical talents, star-studded surprises and the lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree remains one of the holiday season’s most anticipated events.
Christmas In Nashville
Celebrate the season Nashville-style! Ring in the holidays with dazzling performances and a night of music, magic and merrymaking straight from Music City.
Thursday, December 4th:
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
The classic animated tale of the curmudgeonly Grinch who’s hoping to remove the joy from Christmas but, ultimately, has a change of heart.
Frosty The Snowman
The cherished original holiday special about how Frosty, everyone’s favorite snowman, came to life one day.
Friday, December 5th:
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
The classic animated special offers the perspective of Rudolph, who’s told he couldn’t play in any Reindeer Games due to his glowing nose. Rudolph sets out on a fantastic journey where he meets Hermey the elf, prospector Yukon Cornelius and a host of Misfit Toys, all while trying to hide from the Abominable Snow Monster.
Monday, December 8th:
Password Holiday Special
Password, hosted by Keke Palmer and starring Jimmy Fallon, returns to NBC primetime to ring in the holiday season with a very merry, special holiday episode. Celebrity guest Jonathan Groff spreads good cheer, pairing up with contestants to compete against Fallon and his teammate in a festive edition of the iconic celebrity word game.
Tuesday, December 9th:
Shrek The Halls
This half-hour animated special debuted in 2007 and features a Christmas twist on the original “Shrek” characters.
Tuesday, December 9th:
A Motown Christmas
Hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey, this special will feature performances by Motown legends and today’s hottest stars celebrating iconic Hitsville U.S.A classics and their favorite holiday songs.
Thursday, December 11th:
NBC 2025 Year In Review Presented By Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood’s Mario Lopez and Kit Hoover host NBC’s primetime special, recapping the most talked about entertainment stories and buzzworthy headlines of the year.
Wednesday, December 17th:
Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular
Jimmy Fallon searches for the holiday spirit in New York, exploring a surreal and magical apartment building where behind every door a different celebrity joins him for a performance from his festive holiday album, “Holiday Seasoning.” The star-studded lineup of guests includes Meghan Trainor, Cara Delevingne, Dolly Parton, JB Smoove, Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake, LL Cool J, The Roots, “Weird Al” Yankovic and more.
Thursday, December 18th:
A Saturday Night Live Christmas
The iconic late-night program will highlight memorable Christmas-themed sketches.
Wednesday, December 24th:
It's A Wonderful Life
NBC again presents this Frank Capra classic starring Jimmy Stewart. An angel is sent from heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
Christmas Eve Mass
Viewers will be able to watch the Pope Leo-led mass from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Thursday, January 1st:
137th Rose Parade Presented By Honda
The streets of Pasadena, Calif., are lined with thousands of parade fans as gorgeous rose-covered floats and marching bands partake in their annual New Year’s holiday festivities.
ODDS AND SODS
* While it's technically not a media-related book, this profile in The Atlantic (gift link) helps explain why the must-read book of the fall is Beth Macy's Paper Girl, which is an extraordinarily nuanced look at her hometown of Urbana, Ohio:
Macy doesn’t reserve her disappointment for those she disagrees with politically. One Christmas, her sister-in-law, a Yale-educated poet, grumbles about Macy’s siblings, all of whom voted for Trump. She tells Macy, “Your people don’t want my people to exist.” Reflecting on the accusation, Macy writes, “How could I not love the relatives who took care of my demented mother when I live seven hours away, including my brother-in-law John, who flings around the word ‘deplorable’ at me but also resets Mom’s TV every other day, or the sister who takes her to every doctor’s appointment?” She tells her sister-in-law, “My people don’t hate your people; they don’t even know your people.” In Paper Girl, Macy does what most opinion essays and social-media posts don’t even try to do: She gets out of her bubble.
* Starz has canceled its drama series BMF after four seasons.
* The theatrical comedy satire The Roses starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman will debut on streaming Thursday, November 20th on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
* The new costume drama The Forsytes will receive its U.S. premiere Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 on PBS Masterpiece.
WHAT'S COMING TODAY AND TOMORROW
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30TH:
* Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers (Netflix)
* Amsterdam Empire Series Premiere (Netflix)
* G.R.I.T.S. Series Premiere (ALLBLK)
* Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will (Netflix)
* So You're Raising A Warrior Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* Son Of A Donkey Series Premiere (Netflix)
* The Witcher Season Premiere (Netflix)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31ST:
* Bad Influencer Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Breathless [Respira] Season Two Premiere (Netflix)
* Dime tu nombre Series Premiere (Prime Video)
* Murder At The Motel (A&E)
* Murder On Trial Series Premiere (A&E)
* Rhythm + Flow France Season Premiere (Netflix)
* The State Of BBQ: A Texas Monthly Special (PBS)
* Tremembé Series Premiere (Prime Video)
SEE YOU EARLY FRIDAY MORNING!