Oracle co-founder Allegedly Talked about CNN Host Changes During White House Takeover Bid Talks

High-level administration figures have allegedly expressed their preference for Paramount Skydance to take over the media conglomerate in the past month, with one official participating in conversations about possible on-air adjustments at CNN with the billionaire investor, principal owner of Paramount.

The reported talks come as Paramount positioning itself as the top contender for acquiring Warner Bros Discovery, particularly because the deal would face fewer regulatory hurdles compared to competing offers.

Discussions Regarding CNN Hosts

In one particular discussion, Ellison reportedly participated in dialogue about potentially axing certain CNN hosts whom Donald Trump is said to loathe, including Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar.

Their discussion also reportedly touched on potential replacements for these positions and the possibility of broadcasting CBS content such as the flagship 60 Minutes program on the cable network.

Behind-the-Scenes Lobbying Efforts

These private discussions underscore the Ellison family's strong desire in taking over the media giant and the administration's seeming support for their bid.

Paramount is getting ready to present a bid for the complete assets of Warner Bros Discovery ahead of the mid-November submission date for first-round bids.

Antitrust Considerations

Ex-government regulators who worked during Trump's administration have suggested they do not anticipate major antitrust concerns with the proposed acquisition.

"This won't pose serious antitrust issues," an ex-regulator commented, adding that Ellison's contacts with the White House would similarly not pose regulatory issues.

Other Factors

FCC chair Brendan Carr had earlier indicated that a Paramount takeover of Warner Bros Discovery would be very unlikely to need any scrutiny by his agency.

Other interested parties for Warner Bros Discovery include Netflix and Comcast, though political considerations could affect the ultimate decision.

The competing companies believe they would gain advantage through increased size to compete on streaming, while Netflix is mainly focused in the production assets and premium content catalog.

"This is simply how the political influence process is played," remarked an ex-regulator knowledgeable about the situation.