The Powers That Be: Daily David Ellison’s Content Complex
9 snips
Sep 17, 2025 Dylan Byers, a media reporter and host of The Grill Room, joins to dive into David Ellison's ambitious plans for a major merger between WBD and Paramount Skydance. They explore the potential shake-up this could cause for legacy news networks like CNN and CBS News, as well as Ellison’s aspirations to rival tech giants like Netflix. The conversation also touches on the broader implications for traditional media and how innovation is crucial for staying relevant with younger audiences.
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Influence Over Management
- David Ellison will place influential figures like Bari Weiss into newsrooms to shift editorial posture without making them traditional CEOs.
- That influence may shake up coverage but likely won't completely redirect core reporting standards.
Shakeups Can Be Healthy
- Some newsroom changes from new owners can be healthy by forcing soul-searching at legacy outlets losing cultural influence.
- Significant editorial sway doesn't necessarily equal wholesale identity change for places like CBS or CNN.
Two Assets Of Legacy News
- Legacy TV news has two main assets: reporting the news and shaping public perception, and the latter is increasingly more valuable.
- CBS and CNN currently struggle to compete for attention in the social and streaming era against tech-driven platforms.
