Ticker: David Ellison Believes CNN Plays a Role in Paramount-WBD Merger Delay

Subscribe Sign In Agencies Brands Creativity Media TV Commerce Tech Dealroom // Check if the menuHtml is stored in local storage if (!localStorage.getItem('menuHtml')) { // Set the value in local storage localStorage.setItem('menuHtml', ""); } if (!window.Zephr) window.Zephr = {}; if (!window.Zephr.outcomes) window.Zephr.outcomes = {}; window.Zephr.outcomes['subscriber-only-lock-on-articles'] = { featureLabel: 'Subscriber Only Lock on Articles', outcomeId: 'transformation/3', outcomeLabel: 'Empty Outcome' }; Networks Ticker: David Ellison Believes CNN Plays a Role in Paramount-WBD Merger Delay Ellison shared his thoughts in a New York Times op-ed Kamala Harris and Anderson Cooper in CNN's presidential town hall on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Courtesy Rebecca Wright/CNN By Mark Mwachiro --> if (!window.Zephr) window.Zephr = {}; if (!window.Zephr.outcomes) window.Zephr.outcomes = {}; window.Zephr.outcomes['nativead'] = { featureLabel: 'nativead', outcomeId: 'graph/2#95', outcomeLabel: 'Show nativead (copy)' }; Top of the Ticker : Paramount Skydance’s CEO David Ellison took to The New York Times to write an op-ed , where he claimed the lawsuits brought on by the state attorneys general and Writers Guild about the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger have nothing to do with it violating antitrust law, but everything to do with him owning CNN.

In the op-ed, Ellison writes that newsrooms such as those at CNN and CBS News should reflect the “whole world, not one side of it,” and that he will maintain CNN’s independence. He added, “Our journalists will continue to answer to the facts and to all the people they serve–not to any party or cause.”

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a social media statement in response to Ellison’s op-ed that he will continue to make their case in court and that he remained “committed to protecting competition, defending affordability, and ensuring California’s economy works for everyone—not just the largest corporations.”

All this is happening as a trial date of March 2, 2027, was set by Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín . Paramount was hoping for a trial date that would take place this year, preferably in November, but with this news and how far out the trial has been set, the media conglomerate will incur around $650 million in ticking fees per quarter starting Oct. 1 until the deal is finalized .

Back at the ranch : Meanwhile at CBS News, correspondent Trevor Phillips , the network’s newest correspondent, made some surprising comments about editor-in-chief Bari Weiss . Phillips, in an interview with The Telegraph , said Weiss, who is remaking the network, is “one of those people who will either change the world or crash and burn. But when they crash and burn, it’s in technicolor.”

In an effort to separate itself from its timeslot peers, CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil has introduced a new feature to the newscast, The Big Question, which focuses on frank discussions tied to the news of the day. According to Variety , Dokoupil said these segments feel authentic and “like a person is just talking to you about the day’s events.”

The Columbia Journalism Review recently profiled CBS News president and executive editor Tom Cibrowski , whose job responsibilities have rapidly evolved since he returned to the network in March 2025.

Finally, former 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley is scheduled to receive the 2026 Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism during the organization’s Bowtie Ball, scheduled to take place on Saturday, Nov. 14. Pelley is being honored for his courage, integrity and commitment to independent journalism, which has defined his five-decade career.

This just in: Award-winning broadcast journalist Scott Pelley will receive the 2026 Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism at this year's Bowtie Ball. 🎉

The Poynter Institute (@poynterinstitute.bsky.social) 2026-08-06T14:02:05.540Z

Nancy Guthrie : NBC News’ Today on Monday aired a segment featuring its co-host Savannah Guthrie and her siblings making their latest pleas for any information tied to their mother’s, Nancy Guthrie , disappearance and the whereabouts of her remains. This comes as the two initial ransom notes sent to local media outlets shortly after Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance on Feb. 1 were released by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. One of the notes claimed Nancy Guthrie unexpectedly passed shortly after her abduction, and there was nothing that could have changed the outcome. It ends with an apology.

Note 2 is below. 3/3 pic.twitter.com/T7hAro0ebR

Pima County Sheriff's Department (@PimaSheriff) July 31, 2026

Staying current : Monday saw the debut of a new two-hour program helmed by Christine Romans on the NBC News Now streaming service. Current with Christine Romans, airing weekdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET, will translate breaking developments, politics, global news, and the economy, helping viewers stay informed and understand what’s next. The show also debuted a new franchise, “50 States in 50 Days,” which partners with NBC affiliates to spotlight local solutions to national challenges.

New milestone : CNBC’s coverage of SpaceX’s initial public offering on June 12 delivered the network’s highest-rated day in five years. This was revealed during Versant’s quarterly earnings report, with the network also being the third most-watched cable network among the Adults 25-54 demo during market hours on that day.

Revolving Door: CNN announced that Adefemi Akinsanya is joining the network to host a new multiplatform series, Africa Inc. She was previously with Arise News, where she was an international correspondent and anchor based in Lagos, Nigeria, where she will continue to be based.

The network also revealed that Stefano Pozzebon will be its new Rome correspondent. Pozzebon was previously a CNN contributor in both Bogota, Colombia, and, before that, in Caracas, Venezuela.

CNBC announced that Harvey Stober and Isabella Gao have joined the network as a senior investment analyst and correspondent and an equity analyst and correspondent, respectively. The appointments were announced by CNBC’s editor-in-chief, David Cho , and Ken Brown , the network’s managing editor of digital and editorial strategy. Other promotions included John Melloy to deputy managing editor, investing and markets; Vanna Ben’Ous to senior editor, contributors; and Christina Cheddar Berk to senior editor, stock analysis.

Meanwhile, San Francisco-based anchor Deirdre Bosa will be departing the network at the end of August to launch a new independent show, Deirdre Bosa Live, alongside Jasmine Wu , focusing on artificial intelligence.

AI is no longer a segment. It’s a whole show. So I’m leaving CNBC at the end of the month to build it with @jaswu_

More soon. Reach us at dbosa@dbosalive.com jwu@dbosalive.com pic.twitter.com/StdZNsNTbA

Deirdre Bosa (@dee_bosa) August 7, 2026

CBS News announced that Dov Lieber is joining the network as a senior reporter based in Israel. He was previously with The Wall Street Journal, where he was a correspondent covering Israel and the Palestinian territories. Meanwhile, former Free Press video journalist Tanya Lukyanova will be an associate producer at 60 Minutes.

Some very exciting professional news: I'm thrilled to be joining @60Minutes . It's the honor of a lifetime, and a dream I've had since college. Deeply grateful for the opportunity, and can't wait to get started. Send me scoops! https://t.co/qcN0NKiRmq

Tanya Lukyanova (@TanyaLukyanova_) July 31, 2026

Madeleine Carlisle is the latest departure from CBS News’ Sunday newsmagazine 60 Minutes. According to Status , Carlisle was an associate producer and is the daughter of Stephen Colbert .

Finally, Pelley, alongside his former 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi , is taking on Journalist-In-Residence roles for the 2026-2027 academic year at the Columbia School of Journalism. They will work with students through lectures, workshops, and special events, and will each contribute a piece to the Columbia Journalism Review.

Mark Mwachiro is a TVNewser contributor who has been writing for the blog since March 2022. Based out of New York, Mark has also contributed to ADWEEK.

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The cap had been at 39% since 2004

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