CBS and CNN Staff Fear Job Cuts as Paramount Wins Warner Bros Bid
Staff members at CBS News and CNN are reportedly fearing a "disaster" as Paramount Skydance emerges as the winning bidder for Warner Bros Discovery (WBD). This follows Netflix's decision to withdraw from an $83 billion takeover attempt, leaving employees anxious about the potential merger of the two prominent news networks under a single corporate roof.
Anxiety Over Job Losses and Editorial Changes
With the deal pending approval from WBD shareholders and government regulators, workers are particularly concerned about the merging of CBS News and CNN, which could lead to significant job cuts as duplicative services are eliminated. This is a standard outcome in many media mergers, and multiple CBS News staffers have expressed their frustration using strong language upon hearing the news.
Additionally, CNN employees are nervous about Paramount's ownership, which is seen as friendly to former President Donald Trump. There are fears that this could result in ideologically driven programming changes at the network. A specific concern revolves around the potential for Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief of CBS News, to gain a significant role at CNN.
Concerns About Leadership and Influence
Bari Weiss, a conservative commentator turned media entrepreneur with no prior television industry experience, has had a mixed tenure at CBS since her appointment last October. Her path to the position was facilitated by concessions made by David Ellison and Skydance Media to secure support from Trump-appointed regulators for the Paramount acquisition.
One CNN producer, who was not authorized to comment, told the Guardian: "A Paramount WBD merger is a disaster for the people who work at both companies, and if Bari Weiss takes control of CNN, it will be the end of the global network Ted Turner founded. I don't think that's hyperbolic." Turner revolutionized TV news by founding the 24-hour news channel in 1980.
A second CNN staffer offered a more measured perspective, noting that CNN's size and profitability make it an attractive target for figures like the Ellisons. Meanwhile, Seth Stern, chief of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, warned that David Ellison might compromise journalistic integrity for corporate expansion, stating that such censorship could harm business interests.
Broader Implications and Regulatory Hurdles
Paramount's victory would not only bring CNN under its control but also add Warner's prestigious HBO network to its portfolio, known for hit shows like Succession and Game of Thrones, as well as award-winning documentaries. WBD chief executive David Zaslav has taken a positive tone, asserting that the merger will create tremendous value for shareholders.
However, the deal faces regulatory scrutiny from the Department of Justice's antitrust division and potential legal challenges from state attorneys general. This means that any merger and associated changes at CNN could be delayed or altered significantly. In a memo to CNN employees, chief executive Mark Thompson urged staff not to jump to conclusions and to focus on delivering quality journalism during a busy news year.
Political Dynamics and Future Uncertainties
Donald Trump, a long-time critic of CNN, has previously stated that the network should be part of any WBD sale and that its leadership should be ousted. Reports from November indicated that Larry Ellison, Paramount Skydance's largest shareholder and a friend of Trump, discussed potential changes at CNN with White House officials, including possibly removing hosts who have drawn Trump's ire.
David Ellison acknowledged having conversations with Trump about CNN in a December interview but declined to elaborate. Despite the Trump administration's preference for Paramount over Netflix, the regulatory process remains a key hurdle. Former FTC commissioner Alvaro Bedoya has expressed concern over the Ellison family's expanding asset portfolio, calling to "block this rotten deal" in a social media post.
As the situation unfolds, employees at both CBS News and CNN continue to grapple with uncertainty, balancing fears of job cuts and editorial shifts with the ongoing demands of their journalistic duties in a critical election year.
