Oracle co-founder Reportedly Talked about CNN Host Changes During White House Takeover Bid Talks
High-level administration figures have reportedly expressed their preference for Paramount Skydance to take over Warner Bros Discovery in the past month, with one official engaging in discussions about potential programming changes at CNN with the billionaire investor, principal owner of Paramount.
The reported talks come as Paramount positioning itself as the top contender for purchasing Warner Bros Discovery, especially since the acquisition would encounter less antitrust scrutiny compared to other potential bidders.
Conversations About CNN Hosts
During at least one call, Ellison allegedly engaged in dialogue about potentially axing certain CNN hosts whom the former president is said to loathe, including Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar.
The conversation also allegedly covered potential replacements for these positions and the idea of airing CBS programming such as the iconic news magazine on CNN's airwaves.
Private Lobbying Efforts
These private discussions highlight the Ellison family's strong desire in acquiring Warner Bros Discovery and the administration's apparent preference for their acquisition attempt.
Paramount is preparing to submit a offer for the entirety of Warner Bros Discovery ahead of the mid-November submission date for first-round bids.
Antitrust Considerations
Ex-government regulators who worked during Trump's second term have indicated they do not foresee significant competition issues with the proposed acquisition.
"This doesn't present major competition problems," one former official stated, adding that Ellison's communications to the White House would also not create regulatory issues.
Additional Considerations
Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr had earlier indicated that a Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery would be very unlikely to require any scrutiny by his agency.
Additional potential bidders for Warner Bros Discovery include Netflix and Comcast, though political considerations could affect the final outcome.
Both Paramount and Comcast believe they would benefit from greater scale to compete on streaming, while Netflix is mainly focused in the studio business and premium content catalog.
"This is simply how the government relations game is played," commented an ex-regulator familiar with the matter.
