David Ellison denies he has ‘politicized’ Skydance despite close Trump links
Ellison admits ‘good relationship’ with administration in remarks to reporters about newly merged media company David Ellison, the chief executive of the newly formed media conglomerate Skydance, denied that he has “politicized” the company despite the close connection he has forged with Donald Trump’s White House over the 20 months of his administration. “We have a good relationship with this…
David Ellison, chief executive of the newly formed media conglomerate Skydance, has explicitly denied that he has "politicized" the company, despite his close ties to the Trump administration during its two-year tenure. In a press briefing following the merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, Ellison emphasized the importance of having "good relationships" with various political leaders, including President Biden, Republican Senator Tim Scott, and Governor Gavin Newsom.
He asserted that Skydance is committed to "editorial independence" and that the company is "completely editorially independent" when it comes to CNN and CBS News. Ellison also expressed his support for the leaders overseeing the two news networks, CNN chief executive Mark Thompson and CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, both of whom have committed to remaining in their positions.
Concerns about a potential rightward shift in CNN's editorial stance were addressed by Ellison, who reiterated the company's dedication to truth and trust in reporting. When asked about potential consolidations or cost-saving measures, Ellison indicated that a focus would be placed on thoroughly examining the merger's potential synergies, rather than immediate job cuts.
The $6 billion in projected savings from the merger would not primarily be achieved through layoffs.
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