David Ellison Will Get Control of CNN After All

Eighteen months ago, David Ellison was mostly known as an ATM for Hollywood producers seeking to pad out budgets for dad-core flicks such as Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit , Jack Reacher: Never Go Back , and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts .

But now, thanks to a timely reallocation of his father’s money , he’s set to be one of the biggest news-media moguls in American history.

Having already taken control of CBS News—with little to show for it audience-wise but plenty ideologically —he seems clear to add CNN to his roster of outlets.

His acquisition , through Paramount, of Warner Bros.

Discovery has been held up by a lawsuit filed by blue-state attorneys general over antitrust questions.

One reported goal of the AGs was to have Ellison sell CNN in order to close the deal, though California’s Rob Bonta labeled that speculation .

But yesterday morning, those AGs appeared to give up their fight .

As Benjamin Mullin, David McCabe, Shawn Hubler, and Laurel Rosenhall at The New York Times reported: After weeks of on-again-off-again negotiations, Paramount and the states agreed to a number of concessions to complete the deal, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public.

The entertainment giant has agreed to establish a board of journalists to ensure the editorial independence of CNN and CBS News and committed to distributing 30 movies in theaters every year.

The company also pledged to spend an additional $1.5 billion on film production over the next five years.

So although another major national news outlet will be under the control of a major Trump ally, at least there’ll be “a board of journalists to ensure the editorial independence”! (That this is happening while the president Ellison supports is banning all CNN reporters from the White House adds a tragicomic veneer to the story.) If this particular move sounds familiar, that’s because such “boards” have been a part of other news-company acquisitions that have raised similar concerns about antitrust or editorial control.

These boards’ effectiveness has been, to be generous, extremely limited.

Two of the most prominent examples—both involving Rupert Murdoch—offer little reason for optimism. [ From the April 2025 issue: Growing up Murdoch ] The first began in 1981, when Murdoch wanted to purchase The Times of London and The Sunday Times .

The editors of both papers were skeptical.