Ellison Is Said to Be Working on Deal to Keep CNN’s Chief Executive

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 3, 2026

David Ellison is negotiating to keep Mark Thompson as CNN’s CEO for at least one year amid the imminent $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, which will unite major media brands but also entails $80 billion in debt and regulatory scrutiny. The deal’s completion will test CNN’s leadership stability and operational independence, especially given internal tensions, planned cost cuts, and the establishment of an independent journalists’ board to protect editorial control.

David Ellison, overseeing the impending merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, is reportedly negotiating to retain Mark Thompson as CNN’s chief executive for at least the coming year. The discussions come as the $111 billion deal nears completion, projected for next week following months of legal delays.

According to individuals familiar with the negotiations, Thompson has sought to preserve his operational independence over CNN amid the merger that will combine CBS News, CNN, streaming platforms HBO Max and Paramount+, and major studios Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures under one corporate entity. While the deal is expected to create a media powerhouse, it also carries $80 billion in debt, intensifying pressure on management.

Ellison, known for appointing Bari Weiss—an outspoken critic of mainstream media—to lead CBS News, does not appear poised to make immediate changes to CNN's leadership. Weiss is expected to maintain her current roles without assuming editorial or operational control over CNN in the short term. Sources indicate the Ellison family still supports Weiss, leaving open the possibility of an expanded role for her in the future.

CNN employees have expressed apprehension about Weiss, particularly due to controversies during her tenure at CBS News, including accusations—denied by CBS—of political interference on the program “60 Minutes.” Notably, Anderson Cooper, CNN’s most prominent anchor, reportedly declined to work under Weiss’s leadership.

CNN’s profitability, while still substantial at around $650 million projected this year, has declined from its peak of over $1 billion in 2016. The network continues to face challenges such as competition from Fox News and MSNBC, restrictions imposed during the Trump administration on press access at White House events, and a strategic shift toward digital subscriber revenue. Under Thompson’s leadership, CNN has introduced new paid products, including a subscription-based weather app and planned expansions in the UK and Canada.

A critical element of the merger involves regulatory and antitrust scrutiny. As part of a settlement with states that attempted to block the merger, Ellison agreed to establish an independent journalists’ board, granting editorial decision-making authority at both CNN and CBS News free from corporate interference.

The integration of CNN and CBS News remains complex, particularly because CBS News has a largely unionized workforce, unlike CNN. Combined with planned cost-cutting efforts by Paramount, concerns about potential layoffs have surfaced across both news divisions.

Thompson has recently been seen at the Paramount lot in California, where CNN hosted a gubernatorial debate in Burbank earlier this week, indicating his ongoing involvement as the merger approaches closure. The evolving arrangement between Ellison and Thompson will be closely watched as the new media conglomerate moves forward.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.