All articles tagged with #david ellison
David Ellison’s $111-billion bid to merge Paramount with Warner Bros. Discovery has sparked a Hollywood backlash—thousands signed an open letter opposing the deal amid fears of media concentration and political entanglements, even as Ellison argues the merger would boost competition and pledges to keep producing films; critics warn of job losses and give the administration leverage over outlets like CNN and CBS News.
Bruce Springsteen used Stephen Colbert's second-to-last Late Show to call out Donald Trump and the Ellison duo, delivering an anti-Trump performance of "Streets of Minneapolis" with imagery of the American flag and messages like “RESISTANCE” and “HOPE,” as Colbert’s upcoming finale-era episodes feature guests who have weighed in on the former president’s influence and Paramount Global leadership changes.
Paramount is reportedly considering removing Bari Weiss’s day-to-day control of CBS News (and 60 Minutes) in favor of a more experienced television executive, with Weiss focusing on digital growth; the discussions, reported by Dylan Byers of Puck, are not finalized and Paramount has pushed back on the claims, while Ellison is said to have supported Weiss amid broader talks that could also involve CNN.
President Trump arrived to a protest-filled MAGA dinner hosted by Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison in Washington, highlighting CBS News’ recent pro-Trump tilt under Bari Weiss amid the Paramount-WBD merger controversy, with Trump’s attendance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner also on the horizon.
Paramount CEO David Ellison surprised CinemaCon with an immediate 45‑day theatrical window and a 90‑day path to SVOD, saying Paramount could average about 30 films a year if the Warner Bros. Discovery merger closes. On stage after a Jon M. Chu–directed sizzle reel narrated by Tom Cruise, Ellison highlighted a revived Paramount lot and a ramped-up slate led by co-heads Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, including 15 theatrical releases in 2026. The appearance comes amid merger chatter and industry nerves, with AMC’s Adam Aron expressing support for the deal while executives warn of potential job losses and fewer films if the merger stalls.
Hollywood’s Paramount-Warner Bros. merger has become a public skirmish marked by a stalled negotiation with Netflix, a growing list of A‑list insiders signing an open letter opposing the deal, and Paramount’s new CEO David Ellison drawing attention for missing and then reappearing at industry events—sparking concern that consolidation could curb production and diverse storytelling in the industry.
Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison told CinemaCon attendees that the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger would not cut output, pledging a minimum of 30 films per year across the combined studios, with a full theatrical release and a 45-day window before SVOD within 90 days, as antitrust scrutiny and industry concerns continue.
At CinemaCon, David Ellison announced Paramount will offer a 45-day exclusive theatrical window, followed by a three-month paid VOD window before Paramount+, and a minimum of 30 films released in theaters annually across Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery after their merger; Universal plans a 45-day window starting in 2027, and Ellison touted increased output since Paramount’s reorganization, including a short film celebrating the studio’s past and future.
David Ellison argues in a letter to California lawmakers that a Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger could strengthen Hollywood and protect jobs if the studios remain separate, outlining commitments such as a 15-film annual slate per studio, licensing to third parties, a 45-day theatrical window, and longer post‑theatrical VOD windows; he also proposes expanding LA operations post‑Skydance deal and backing tax incentives to keep production domestic, with lawmakers demanding measurable pledges.
Paramount said the $1.5 billion lawsuit accusing top executives and shareholders of pressuring its Warner Bros. Discovery bid is frivolous, after the filing claimed a direct Trump assurance to Larry Ellison to back Paramount’s pursuit of WBD. The lawsuit expands on prior allegations about media leaks and deals, while Jeff Shell and his wife Laura Shell counterclaim against plaintiff R.J. Cipriani. A Gibson Dunn probe into Shell’s statements continues, underscoring ongoing legal wrangling as the case unfolds.
At a Friday briefing, Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth derided what he called 'fake' news about the Iran war and openly urged David Ellison—son of billionaire Trump donor Larry Ellison—to take over CNN, a move tied to Ellison’s Paramount Skydance bid for CNN’s parent company. The remarks come amid ongoing controversy over media coverage of the war and a broader push that critics say could increase state-media influence, especially as transparency and access debates continue.
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison addressed roughly 160 Warner Bros. Discovery executives (with 300+ joining remotely) about Paramount’s pending $111 billion deal for WBD, saying the turbulent pre-merger phase is behind them and outlining a plan for about 30 films per year across the combined studios. He praised HBO as “the gold standard” in TV, noted about $6 billion in cost savings without giving specific layoffs due to gun-jumping rules, and flagged discussions on the future of HBO Max/Paramount+ and CNN’s editorial independence. Paramount expects the deal to close in Q3 2026 and has a ticking fee of $0.25 per share per quarter until completion.
David Ellison is reshaping Paramount Skydance into a tech‑forward, content‑driven powerhouse and pursuing a mega‑merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The plan includes upgrading streaming technology, launching short‑form vertical video and multiview sports, unifying Paramount+ with Pluto TV (and potentially HBO Max after a deal closes), reorganizing leadership, hiring key executives, and expanding data analytics, all while navigating about $79 billion in debt and scrutiny over how politics and investors may influence the company.
David Ellison says CNN will remain editorially independent as Paramount Skydance moves to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal valued at about $111 billion, with a push to expand CNN’s streaming reach while CBS News leadership changes under Bari Weiss prompt staff concerns about potential bias and slant.
Netflix pulled out of its $82.7 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. studios after David Ellison’s Paramount–Skydance sweetened the offer to about $111 billion, taking on substantial debt. Ted Sarandos explained the move in a Bloomberg interview, denying that Trump or regulators drove the decision, and noted new, constructive dialogue with theater operators and potential future collaborations (e.g., selective theatrical runs) as the industry recalibrates around the deal’s upheaval.