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David Ellison says opposition to Paramount Skydance-WBD merger is political
Ellison said the $111bn deal has been reviewed and approved by regulators across 65 countries, but he argued critics are focused on whether he can be trusted to steward CNN.
Paramount Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison said opposition to his company’s mega-merger with Warner Bros Discovery is driven by politics rather than competitive concerns. In commentary tied to the stalled court process, he argued the legal backlash is “not really about market share,” pointing instead to broader political motivations.
Ellison also addressed claims about potential influence over CNN, saying the “plainer worry” is whether he can be trusted as a steward of the network. He wrote that there has been speculation about his politics and loyalties, adding that he votes for candidates from both parties and describes his views as a mix of conservative and liberal positions.
According to Ellison, the transaction has already undergone regulatory review, including approvals by regulators in 65 countries, among them the United States. The remarks come as a state coalition and the Writers Guild of America West and East have sued to block the merger.
The reporting also notes Ellison’s background in media consolidation, including a prior $8.4bn merger involving Skydance Media and Paramount Global, and that during that process CBS cancelled The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. The outlet further says Ellison has faced backlash that began last summer after the earlier deal closed.