Is Paramount Skydance poised to transform CNN into a conservative-leaning network akin to Fox News 2.0?
With David Ellison’s media conglomerate on the verge of acquiring CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, in a colossal $111 billion transaction, CNN employees have voiced concerns. They fear that Paramount Skydance’s perceived pro-Trump stance could shift CNN’s reporting towards a more right-wing perspective. These anxieties follow Ellison’s appointment of Free Press founder Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, a move that stirred considerable internal unrest. Weiss, a vocal critic of what she terms “woke” news coverage in many mainstream outlets, is expected to play a supervisory role at CNN once the Paramount-WBD acquisition is finalized.
During a CNBC “Squawk Box” interview on Thursday, Ellison affirmed that CNN would preserve its editorial independence as a news organization.
In the same interview, CNBC anchor David Faber highlighted a “perception and/or a fear” that upon assuming control of CNN, and given the changes implemented at CBS News, Paramount Skydance might become “more beholden to the Trump administration.” He then pressed the CEO to address these concerns among many.
Ellison responded, “Look, I’ve stated this from the outset: when it truly comes to editorial independence, it will be absolutely upheld. It’s maintained at CBS; it will be maintained at CNN. Our objective is to engage with the 70% of Americans, and indeed people worldwide, who identify as center-left or center-right. We aim to be in the business of truth and trust, and that commitment will not waver.”
Ellison lauded CNN as an “incredible brand with an incredible team,” emphasizing his firm belief in maintaining the necessary independence for its “incredible journalists” and expressing his commitment to supporting that going forward.
Ellison indicated that Paramount Skydance’s primary focus for CNN would be to invest in broadening its availability through streaming platforms.
He articulated, “CNN and CBS News are brands we are keen to transition to streaming, providing consumers with more choices. They can watch our exceptional news brands on broadcast or cable if they prefer, but we also want to create an environment where they can watch via streaming, meeting consumers wherever they are. We intend to invest in the news business, and we believe this transaction will be beneficial for both CBS News and CNN.”
CNN already offers a streaming subscription service, All Access, launched last autumn at $6.99/month. This follows the fate of CNN+, which was introduced in 2022 but shut down less than a month after its launch, shortly after Discovery finalized its acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T.
Ellison’s remarks might not alleviate the concerns of CNN personnel regarding potential significant shifts in editorial direction.
As reported by Variety, Weiss, a former New York Times opinion journalist who sold her Free Press to Paramount for an estimated $150 million, has assumed leadership of CBS News’ editorial operations. Her tenure has reportedly been marked by several management missteps, leading to internal strife and disarray within the news division.
Some of this disruption has impacted “60 Minutes,” a jewel of TV journalism and a prominent media asset in Paramount’s portfolio. Weiss has outlined a strategy to concentrate more on digital audiences, despite CBS News’ television properties continuing to generate more advertising revenue. CBS News staff have openly expressed worries about pressure to align stories with a predetermined viewpoint.
Adding to perceptions of dissatisfaction with current leadership, Anderson Cooper announced last month his departure from “60 Minutes,” after serving as a correspondent for the program for two decades.
Brian Steinberg contributed to this article.