Paramount Skydance weighs CNN sale in $110bn merger antitrust fight
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Paramount Skydance is considering a sale of CNN as part of efforts to resolve an antitrust lawsuit challenging its proposed $110bn merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, chief legal officer Makan Delrahim said Tuesday at Politico's Agenda California conference. The disclosure came as 12 states led by California sued to block the merger and scrutiny mounts over David Ellison's commitment to preserve CNN's editorial independence.
The Merger Lawsuit
Twelve states led by California have sued to block the proposed $110bn merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount chief legal officer Makan Delrahim confirmed at Politico's Agenda California conference that a sale of CNN is among options on the table. Delrahim said the company has been transparent and is willing to work with both Republicans and Democrats to move the merger forward. He also appeared to apply political pressure, saying he would not want to lose Paramount from the state if he were governor.
CNN Editorial Independence
David Ellison has promised to preserve CNN's editorial independence if the merger proceeds, including in a New York Times op-ed last week. CNN media analyst Brian Stelter said those assurances echo promises Ellison made before Paramount Skydance took control of CBS News nearly a year ago. CBS subsequently hired Bari Weiss, a right-leaning opinion writer with no television experience, to lead CBS News, and appointed former Trump administration official Kenneth Weinstein as an ombudsman. Since Weiss joined, CBS has shelved a 60 Minutes investigation into Trump's deportation policy, overhauled the news magazine, and seen anchors Anderson Cooper and Scott Pelley leave or be fired.
What's Next
Paramount Skydance has not set a timeline for a CNN sale, and the California-led lawsuit is expected to advance in federal court in the coming months. Whether divesting CNN would resolve the antitrust claims and reassure critics of the network's editorial direction remains unclear.
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Paramount Skydance weighs CNN sale in $110bn merger antitrust fight
