
Skydance merger closes as Ellison pledges CNN independence amid White House access lawsuit
The merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery officially closed on October 6, 2026, forming the new entity Skydance. David Ellison, the new CEO, pledged to maintain editorial independence for CNN and CBS News. He publicly supported CNN’s First Amendment lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding White House access. Mark Thompson remains as CNN’s chairman and editor-in-chief, while Bari Weiss continues to lead CBS News. The combined company aims to compete with tech giants through a unified streaming platform, though concerns about political influence persist due to Ellison’s ties to President Trump.













