David Ellison Defends CNN Independence Amid Paramount Skydance Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery
David Ellison, the chief executive of Paramount Skydance, has publicly defended the editorial independence of CNN as his company moves forward with the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. In a New York Times op-ed, Ellison argued that the merger is less about market share and more about whether he can be trusted as a steward of the news outlet. He pledged to keep the newsroom non-partisan, stating that journalists will answer to the facts rather than any specific political cause. This defense comes as a 12-state coalition of attorneys general, led by California's Rob Bonta, and the Writers Guild of America have filed lawsuits to block the merger, alleging it would reduce competition and harm the production ecosystem. Despite these legal challenges, Ellison has maintained a close relationship with President Trump, who has publicly praised the mogul. While Paramount must pay daily
Sources
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What David Ellison Is Really Up to
hollywoodreporter.com
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Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery judge sets March 2027 trial date for antitrust fight
cnn.com
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Paramount chief executive David Ellison breaks silence on Warner Bros mega merger
BBC
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CBS Boss Frantically Backtracks After Sucking Up to Trump
The Daily Beast