David Elllison Supports CNN Access to TWH

David Ellison, CNN’s new owner, said he supports the network’s legal action against the Trump administration over White House access and will not interfere in its coverage.

“We believe in editorial independence, and we will never interfere,” Ellison said Tuesday, repeating assurances he made while seeking to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. The Warner-Paramount merger took effect that morning, creating a company named Skydance, which he leads as CEO.

At an employee town hall and a later press conference in Los Angeles, Ellison said Skydance will keep CNN and CBS News “completely editorially independent,” build a streaming service that can compete with rivals, and rebuild trust by following through on those promises. Asked how the company would win over merger opponents, he pointed to those commitments.

David Ellison

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper pressed him at the town hall about employee concerns. Ellison replied that he “believe[s] deeply in journalism” and called the work of CBS News and CNN “a vital part of our democracy.” Citing the need for fact-based news, he referred to a remark by former President Obama during the pandemic: “a republic that can’t agree on the same set of facts can’t function,” adding that he thought Obama was “100% right.”

Ellison also outlined plans to invest in films, shows, and technology, and to help CNN and the broader news business “scale and transition… digitally.” He said the combined company reaches more than 200 million streaming subscribers and “can create an even bigger platform for the best journalism in the world.” He did not name competitors, but his remarks referred to companies such as Google, Netflix, and Disney.

The Ellison family’s ties to President Donald Trump had fueled concerns among CNN employees about the network’s independence.