David Ellison, a film producer and the son of the billionaire in the field of technology Larry Ellison, is at the center of a major transformation in the American media landscape, with the CBS taking over a fusion of $ 8 billion between Skydance and Paramount.
Larry and David Ellison/Photo: X
The recent appointment of journalist Bari Weiss-known for his critical positions against the traditional press-as the chief editor of CBS News has aroused concern in the newsroom. According to some employees who spoke under the protection of anonymity, the decision was perceived as a signal of a major editorial reorientation.
The appointment comes in the context of a broader purchase: Skydance has bought the online publication The Free Press, founded by Weiss, for $ 150 million. Although the transaction was not officially confirmed, details about it appeared in the press.
Overall, these movements reflect the ambition of David Ellison, supported by his father, to build a media empire to combine the influence of Hollywood with the impact of digital platforms.
A family with extended ambitions
Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle and the second richest man in the world according to Bloomberg, is actively involved in this expansion. He would have a participation in the American version of Tiktok, following the negotiations carried out in the context of the pressures exerted by the Trump administration on the Byteance parent company.
In parallel, his son, aged 42, has strengthened his presence in the entertainment industry with productions such as Top Gun: Maverick and has taken control of renowned television and film brands, including CBS.
The Skydance-Paramount merger was approved in July by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in a tense political climate. Previously, Paramount had accepted the payment of $ 16 million to close a process filed by former President Trump, who accused CBS News of political bias.
In the public letter after merger, David Ellison said that “everything we do will be based on trust and guided by facts”, stating that he does not intend to politicize the company.
Bari Weiss and Viitorul CBS News
Weiss's appointment raises question marks on the editorial direction. The journalist is known for his critical positions against the “political correctness” and the firm support of Israel, but his publication criticized Trump's policy on certain occasions.
CBS News, part of a media institution with tradition, founded by figures such as Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, could go through a deep cultural change under the new leadership.
During the negotiations for approval, Skydance promised that he will promote “diversity of opinions” and establish an office of editorial ethics to treat any notifications related to bias.
The relationship with the politics and influence of the father
Although the father and son seem to have different political visions – Larry Ellison is a vocal supporter of the Republican Party, while David donated almost $ 1 million to President Joe Biden's re -election – both have avoided declaring that they will follow a political agenda by the media.
However, the involvement of the two in a wider range of platforms-from television and cinema to digital media-generates speculations on the influence they can exert on the public discourse in the United States.
Skydance ascension and David Ellison's profile
Skydance was established in 2006 and became an important actor in the industry after the success of the movie True Grit. The company subsequently produced successful franchises such as Mission: Impossible, Star Trek and Top Gun.
David Ellison, partially educated in the field of cinema and former acrobatic pilot, was distanced from his father's technological sector. However, the influence of Silicon Valley is found in his development strategy – including through family friendship with Steve Jobs.
In recent years, Skydance has diversified the activity and in animation, despite the controversies related to the hiring of John Lasseter, former director of Pixar, involved in charges of inadequate behavior.
In a media landscape marked by the concentration of property and increasingly obvious political pressures, the extension of the Ellison Empire-especially in a moment of re-evaluating the role of the press in democracy-is carefully followed.
“Rupert Murdoch prepared his son Lachlan, Larry Ellison does the same as David,” says David Lieberman, a media teacher at New School. “The key question remains: they have a clear and articulated plan for this huge influence? It is not clear until now.”
