CNN CEO Urges Employees To Not “Jump To Conclusions” About Paramount

With Paramount emerging as the winning bidder for a potential deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, one of its prizes would be CNN.

That has triggered a new level of consternation at the network, not just because of the ever-present worries about cutbacks at a time of consolidation, but that CNN would be under the same corporate umbrella as CBS. The broadcast network’s news division is undergoing a transformation since the David Ellison-run Skydance acquired Paramount last year.

“Despite all the speculation you’ve read during this process, I’d suggest that you don’t jump to conclusions about the future until we know more,” CNN’s chairman and CEO Mark Thompson wrote to employees Thursday.

He added, “And secondly let’s not forget our duty to our audience. We’re still near the start of what is already an incredibly newsy year at home and abroad, one that will culminate with critical U.S. midterm elections and who knows what else. Let’s continue to focus on delivering the best possible journalism to the millions of people who rely on us all around the world.”

CNN’s Jake Tapper reported Netflix’s withdrawal from the process on his show on Thursday afternoon, telling viewers, “We have some breaking news internationally that affects everybody I’m looking at right now in the studio.”

Democrats already are seeking answers from Ellison on whether he made any guarantees to Donald Trump about changes to CNN, which has long been one of the president’s targets.

There also are concerns about editorial direction at CNN. At CBS, Skydance committed to hiring an ombudsman to take complaints about its news coverage. A former head of a conservative think tank, Kenneth Weinstein, was hired in that role. Ellison later tapped Bari Weiss, founder of the center-right site The Free Press, to serve as editor in chief of CBS News. He attended Trump’s State of the Union address this week, as a guest of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), one of the president’s allies.

Under the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal, CNN and other cable networks would have ultimately been spun off into a separate entity. But Paramount’s proposal calls for buying all of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a media giant.

Jim Acosta, the former CNN anchor and host who launched his own media venture, posted on X, “As I’ve been warning, America now has state-compromised media. When 60 Min or CNN is in trouble, we’re all in trouble. Trump has cracked the code in how to hurt the press. Free speech is now at risk. MAGA corporations must not control the news. Support independent media.”

Thompson’s full note is below:

Dear All,

Many of you will have already heard and seen our reporting about today’s two significant pieces of news: first that the board of our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery has decided that Paramount Skydance’s offer to purchase WBD is now the best offer in front of them, and second that Netflix has decided not to increase its own latest offer. 

David Zaslav is holding a WBD Town Hall Friday to discuss the news – you should already have received an invitation to that. We will hold our own CNN Town Hall as soon as possible after that to discuss next steps and to answer your questions to the best of our ability. 

I want to end this note with two thoughts: Despite all the speculation you’ve read during this process, I’d suggest that you don’t jump to conclusions about the future until we know more. And secondly let’s not forget our duty to our audience. We’re still near the start of what is already an incredibly newsy year at home and abroad, one that will culminate with critical U.S. midterm elections and who knows what else. Let’s continue to focus on delivering the best possible journalism to the millions of people who rely on us all around the world. 

Mark