Will Paramount Skydance Shift CNN Right? Staff Fears & Ellison’s Response

Paramount Skydance Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Fuels CNN Staff Anxiety

The impending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) by Paramount Skydance has sparked apprehension among CNN staffers, who fear a potential shift in the network’s editorial direction under new ownership. The $111 billion deal, spearheaded by Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, has raised concerns that the network could lean more conservative, mirroring changes seen at CBS News following Ellison’s leadership there.

These anxieties stem, in part, from Ellison’s appointment of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News last October. Weiss, a conservative commentator and founder of the Free Press, has faced criticism for her approach to news coverage and has reportedly caused “discord and dysfunction” within CBS News, according to Variety. Her potential role in overseeing CNN once the Paramount-WBD deal is finalized is a significant source of worry for many CNN employees.

Ellison, however, sought to allay those fears in a recent interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” Responding to a question about whether CNN would become more beholden to the Trump administration, Ellison stated, “I’ve said this since the beginning, which is, you know, for — when it really comes to — editorial independence will absolutely be maintained. It’s maintained at CBS. It’ll be maintained at CNN.” He emphasized a desire to appeal to a broad audience, stating, “Really, who we want to talk to is the 70% of Americans and really around the world that identify as center-left, as center-right. And we want to be in the truth business. We want to be in the trust business. And that’s not going to change.”

Ellison also highlighted plans to invest in expanding CNN’s reach through streaming platforms. “CNN and CBS News are brands that we also really want to be a part of transitioning to streaming so that consumers have the choice,” he said. “If they want to watch our incredible news brands on broadcast, they can do that. If they want to watch on cable, they can do that. But we also want to create a world to where if they want watch on streaming, they can do that and where we can really meet consumers where they are. We’re going to invest in the news business. And we think Here’s going to — this transaction will be a positive for both CBS News and CNN.”

CNN already operates a streaming subscription service, CNN All Access, launched last fall with a price of $6.99 per month. The network previously attempted a streaming service, CNN+, but it was shuttered less than a month after its launch following Discovery’s acquisition of WarnerMedia in 2022.

Despite Ellison’s assurances, concerns persist among CNN staff. The appointment of Weiss at CBS News has been marked by internal friction, including reported issues with “60 Minutes” and the departure of veteran correspondent Anderson Cooper last month. Sources within CBS News have expressed worries about stories needing to align with a predetermined slant.

The deal still requires approval from WBD shareholders and government regulators, including the Department of Justice. The potential for politically motivated programming changes, coupled with Weiss’s expected influence, has left many at CNN bracing for a period of uncertainty. The acquisition comes at a time when the media landscape is increasingly polarized, and the future of CNN’s editorial independence remains a key question.

The anxieties within CNN are also fueled by the perception of a Trump-friendly ownership structure. Ellison’s company was financed, in part, by his father, Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, who has a long history of supporting former President Trump. This connection has heightened fears that CNN’s coverage could shift to favor more conservative viewpoints.