Paramount CEO David Ellison has broken his silence on the proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, asserting that opposition to the deal stems from concerns about his trustworthiness as a steward of CNN, rather than market share. Ellison’s remarks were published in a New York Times guest essay, his first public statement on the matter after remaining silent during earlier discussions.
Ellison’s essay stated that he would no longer remain silent, as he believes news organization leaders should not “put a finger on the scale.” The piece circulated among CNN staff, many of whom reportedly view the merger as inevitable despite ongoing legal challenges. Some CNN employees, however, expressed skepticism about Ellison’s essay, with one staffer telling Fox News Digital that the statement would not ease tensions.
"I don’t think it will calm the nerves of anyone at CNN! No one is worried about his politics, we're worried that he doesn't have any affection for the role of journalism," the staffer said, adding that Ellison's actions at CBS News, including appointing Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News, reflect a disregard for independent storytelling and accountability.
The proposed merger faces several obstacles, including an antitrust lawsuit led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a suit from the Writers Guild of America. Paramount has agreed to delay the deal until next year to allow these legal battles to proceed.
Ellison argued that the claims made in these lawsuits are based on an outdated view of Hollywood, stating that a combined Paramount-Warner would represent less than 20 percent of American television viewing time and 18 percent of the domestic box office over the past 12 months. He contends these figures do not indicate a company with the power to dictate audience choices or writer compensation.
"I believe this fight is not really about market share," Ellison wrote. "The issue is whether I can be trusted as a steward of Warner’s CNN. There has been speculation about my politics, my loyalties, my intentions."
CNN has experienced internal turmoil, including multiple leadership changes and concerns about the network's future direction under Ellison's potential ownership. Staffers have voiced anxieties about job security and the possibility of Bari Weiss, who has drawn criticism from some in the media industry, taking on a leadership role at CNN. Ellison has previously pledged that CNN will maintain its editorial independence.
Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, acknowledged the broader decline in public trust in news institutions, citing a Gallup study indicating only 28 percent of Americans trust the news. He suggested that news organizations need to “look inward” and improve their engagement with critiques, rather than assigning blame elsewhere. "Trust can’t be argued back, but it can be earned back — story by story, day by day," he wrote.
However, some former CNN employees remain unconvinced. A former producer suggested that Ellison's call for CNN and CBS News to stop "refusing to engage" with critics and to "look inward" could provoke a strong reaction from staff who view such challenges as violations of free speech. This source speculated that Ellison might need to make drastic changes to improve the networks.
CNN declined to comment on the matter when reached by Fox News Digital. Paramount has not immediately responded to a request for comment regarding CBS News.