CNN’s boss will remain as Paramount and WBD merge into Skydance

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.

CNN CEO Mark Thompson will remain at the head of the news network when Paramount’s $110 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition closes this week. Thompson wrote in a memo to employees that he believes the combined company will “fully support the principle and practice of the kind of independent news that CNN has always stood for,” according to a report from The New York Times. The news comes as part of an announcement detailing the combined company’s executive leadership.

Paramount CEO David Ellison will lead the companies — to be called Skydance — alongside former Mattel head Ynon Kreiz. Speculation about what would become of CNN swirled following the news of the media megamerger, which puts WBD’s CNN and Paramount’s CBS News under the same roof. As part of a settlement reached with 12 states, Skydance must adopt a news editorial independence board.

The entertainment giant revealed the rest of its executive lineup as well, with HBO CEO Casey Bloys serving as the chief content officer of Skydance’s streaming business. Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg will head up Skydance’s film studios, while George Cheeks will run its TV business. Bari Weiss, who was appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News last year, will remain in her role even as ratings decline.

Paramount’s acquisition is expected to close on Tuesday.

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