David Ellison Vows CNN Will Be Independent as Paramount Buys WBD
Variety • • business
Key Points:
- David Ellison's Paramount Skydance is set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent company, in a $111 billion deal, raising concerns among CNN staff about a potential shift toward a more conservative, Trump-friendly editorial stance.
- Ellison insists CNN will maintain editorial independence and aims to serve a broad audience across the political spectrum, emphasizing a commitment to truth and trust in journalism.
- Paramount Skydance plans to invest in expanding CNN's streaming availability, complementing existing platforms like CNN's All Access subscription service, to meet evolving consumer preferences.
- Bari Weiss, a former New York Times journalist and Free Press founder brought in by Ellison to lead CBS News, has caused internal disruption and is expected to have influence
