Paramount CEO says politics fuelling Warner Bros merger battle
David Ellison argues the deal is not about market share but trust in his leadership amid his family’s ties to Donald Trump.
Paramount CEO David Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has claimed that the legal dispute over his planned $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery is driven by politics rather than concerns about market share. In an op-ed published in The New York Times, Ellison stated that the controversy revolves around whether he can be trusted as a steward of Warner's CNN.
He acknowledged receiving criticism based on his political leanings and intentions. The 12 Democratic-led US states opposing the deal argue it would control around 27% of theatrical film distribution and a similar portion of basic cable channel licensing. California Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed readiness to continue the legal battle to prevent the merger, which includes CNN, a major US cable news network.
The Trump administration approved the merger in June 2025 without making any changes. Ellison, who holds views across the political spectrum, emphasized that he does not intend to manipulate newsrooms to align with his own views, emphasizing the importance of journalistic integrity.
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