Senior White House officials have thrown their weight behind Paramount Skydance's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, with discussions extending to potential programming changes at CNN that would see hosts disliked by Donald Trump removed from their positions.
Behind the Scenes: Ellison's White House Conversations
According to sources familiar with the matter, Larry Ellison, the largest shareholder of Paramount, engaged in dialogue with White House officials about possibly axing CNN hosts whom Donald Trump reportedly loathes, including Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar. The conversations, described as informal given Ellison's lack of formal role at Paramount, also touched on potential replacements and the possibility of running CBS assets like the flagship 60 Minutes programme on CNN air.
These discussions form part of a broader lobbying effort to position Paramount as the front-runner in acquiring Warner Bros Discovery, particularly with the Trump administration. The White House's apparent favouritism toward the Paramount bid underscores both the Ellison family's intense interest in the acquisition and the administration's desire to see their preferred bid succeed.
The Acquisition Landscape and Regulatory Hurdles
Paramount is preparing a bid for the entirety of Warner Bros Discovery ahead of the 20 November deadline for submitting non-binding, first-round bids. This marks the latest attempt by Paramount to acquire the media giant, having previously submitted multiple unsolicited and unsuccessful offers before Warner Bros Discovery put itself on the market.
The regulatory landscape appears favourable for the Paramount bid. Former antitrust division officials from Trump's second term administration suggested they saw no immediate competition issues. "This won't pose serious antitrust issues," one former official stated, adding that Ellison's contacts with the White House similarly wouldn't pose legal problems, noting "That's just how the government relations game is played."
Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr had previously indicated that a Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery would be unlikely to require any review by his commission, further smoothing the potential path for the deal.
Political Connections and Previous Settlements
The Trump administration already views the Ellison family favourably, partly due to Paramount's $16 million settlement paid to the president over an interview 60 Minutes conducted with Kamala Harris last year. This existing positive relationship, combined with additional connections through Oracle where Larry Ellison serves as executive chairman, provides Paramount with significant political leverage.
Multiple current and former Washington consultants, including individuals now working inside the White House, previously held contracts with Oracle, creating a network of influence that could prove crucial in navigating any remaining hurdles for the Paramount bid.
Other parties expressing interest in Warner Bros Discovery include Netflix and Comcast, though Trump may hold Comcast's consistent criticism against them. Both Paramount and Comcast believe acquiring Warner Bros Discovery would provide greater scale to compete in the streaming market, while Netflix primarily eyes the studio business and HBO's extensive library of movies and television shows.
The emerging scenario paints a picture of media consolidation where political relationships may prove as important as financial considerations, with the future of major news networks potentially hanging in the balance.
