The Grill Room The Weissification of CBS News
Sep 5, 2025
The discussion centers on the potential acquisition of The Free Press and its implications for CBS News. With Bari Weiss at the helm, there’s speculation about transforming CBS into a center-right outlet amidst a left-leaning media landscape. They also dive into the ramifications of a groundbreaking Google antitrust ruling and the ongoing struggle against tech monopolies. The conversation highlights the evolving media environment, including the excitement around sports and the challenges traditional journalism faces in a world driven by opinion and digital content.
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Legacy Media Buying Creators Moves The Market
- David Ellison's likely acquisition of Bari Weiss's The Free Press signals legacy media buying digital creators to chase audiences and political positioning.
- The deal could catalyze more digital-media M&A and reshape Substack's role as a creator farm system.
Symbolic Value Beats Immediate Revenue
- The Free Press is small financially but huge in symbolic value and 'key-person' influence centered on Bari Weiss.
- Ellison likely bought influence and audience authenticity more than a big revenue engine.
Translate Text Brands Into Video
- Extend a text-first writer's brand across video and broadcast to reach broader, video-first audiences.
- Leverage CBS's video and ad sales rather than keeping Free Press purely text and subscription-driven.