Paramount CEO David Ellison Asks CNN's Mark Thompson to Stay After Warner Bros. Takeover

Key facts

• A federal judge approved a settlement with 12 state attorneys general on Wednesday, resolving the antitrust lawsuit that had blocked Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
• Paramount expects the $81 billion deal to close Oct. 6, giving it ownership of Warner Bros.' studio, HBO, and cable channels including CNN.
• Paramount CEO David Ellison has reached out to CNN CEO Mark Thompson about staying on once the takeover closes, per the Wall Street Journal.
• Thompson's CNN contract expires early next year; talks about an extension have occurred but no agreement is finalized, and he seeks assurances of broad editorial autonomy.
• CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss is not expected to have a role involving CNN, and Ellison is not expected to name one news executive over both CNN and CBS News.
• CNN staff are uneasy about Weiss potentially wielding sway over the network; at CBS News she led a "60 Minutes" shake-up that saw multiple long-tenured correspondents depart.
• The settlement requires a five-journalist oversight board within 180 days of closing to protect editorial independence at CNN and CBS News and adjudicate complaints about bias and fairness.
• Ellison named former Mattel leader Ynon Kreiz as co-CEO of the combined company, and HBO and HBO Max content chief Casey Bloys is expected to lead streaming programming.