Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison has asked CNN chief Mark Thompson to stay on as CEO following the impending Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, while Bari Weiss will not take a managerial role at the network when the deal closes, according to reports.
Ellison Asks Thompson to Lead CNN Through Pending Takeover
David Ellison has approached CNN’s current chief Mark Thompson about continuing to run the left-leaning network once the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition is finalized. Thompson and Ellison have held discussions regarding a contract renewal in recent weeks, as Thompson’s current deal extends into early next year. While both sides have talked about a new agreement, terms have not yet been reached.
People close to the situation note that Thompson is seeking firm guarantees that he will maintain wide-ranging autonomy over editorial operations and remain in firm control of the network’s journalism under the new ownership.
Ahead of the transition, Thompson addressed staff directly during an all-hands meeting to calm anxieties surrounding the impending Paramount takeover. He told employees he is fully committed to the network and enthusiastic about its direction.
“I want to stay if Paramount finds me useful.”
Mark Thompson, CNN CEO, via Yahoo
Weiss Excluded From CNN Management Ranks in Current Plans
While Ellison looks to secure Thompson’s leadership at CNN, Bari Weiss is not expected to hold a managerial role at the network when the transaction closes. Weiss currently leads CBS News as editor-in-chief following her appointment after Ellison purchased The Free Press website, a tenure marked by major changes at 60 Minutes
.
Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that although Weiss was initially promised CNN when she took her CBS post, leadership ultimately determined her current responsibilities are more than she can handle. Insiders note that billionaire Larry Ellison still holds a strong regard for Weiss and wants to keep her within the company, leaving her exact future role uncertain as executives work to avoid additional crises.
Ellison Evaluates How CNN Will Function Alongside CBS News
Ellison and his leadership team are currently evaluating how CNN will function alongside CBS News. Current plans do not envision a combined news chief overseeing both operations immediately when the organizational structure for the combined company is laid out in the coming days.
While a single executive heading both networks remains a possibility down the line, sources indicate that leadership currently wants to steer clear of additional headaches and crises, treating the structural alignment as a lower priority. Meanwhile, at CBS, an insider described Weiss as subdued during a recent morning editorial meeting, leaving staff to wonder about the long-term trajectory of their own newsroom and whether Thompson might eventually take over.
Whether Thompson will accept the new contract terms and secure the editorial autonomy he demands from the incoming ownership has not been answered.