David Ellison’s Growing Media Empire: From CNN and HBO to ‘Harry Potter’ — and TikTok

David Ellison's Skydance Media has cleared legal hurdles to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, including CNN, for $110 billion. The deal is expected to close in early October, with Ellison overseeing an 'independence board' for editorial control. CNN staff reportedly fear a shift in editorial direction similar to CBS News' rebranding under Ellison's leadership.

Paramount Skydance's $110B acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery has been approved after settling lawsuits with California and 11 other states. The deal, financed partly by foreign sovereign wealth funds, will create a major entertainment company, according to the New York Times. California's attorney general emphasized the settlement is not an endorsement of the merger.

Paramount has settled with US states, clearing its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. The deal, valued at $24B, includes assets like Warner Bros. Pictures, CNN, and HBO Max. Safeguards include a board for CNN's independence and film production commitments.

The merger between Skydance-Paramount and Warner Brothers has received final approval from state attorneys general, including California. The deal includes provisions for $300 million in additional domestic film production and maintaining studio lots in Hollywood. An editorial independence board will oversee CBS News and CNN. Concerns remain about production costs and potential job losses in California.

Democratic state attorneys general have settled their lawsuit, allowing Paramount Skydance's $110 million acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery to proceed. The deal had previously faced legal challenges.

CNN, MSNBC, and Politico are suing the Trump administration over a ban on their journalists from the White House. A settlement allows Paramount to merge with CNN's parent company, WBD. Analyst Brian Stelter discusses the potential impact on newsroom independence.