Potential new CBS owner negotiates with Bari Weiss over acquisition of The Free Press newspaper
In a significant move, media mogul David Ellison, owner-in-waiting of Paramount and CBS through Skydance Media, met with journalist entrepreneur Bari Weiss on Friday to discuss a potential tie-up between CBS News and her startup, The Free Press.
Ellison's vision for CBS News, following his potential acquisition of Paramount and CBS, appears to focus on transforming the legacy company into a more tech-forward, innovative media brand. While there is no direct mention of his specific plans for CBS News in partnership with The Free Press, several contextual points clarify his broader vision and the environment in which CBS News would operate under his leadership.
Ellison aims to reshape Paramount (and by extension CBS) into a "tech-forward brand working to reinvent itself" beyond traditional Hollywood models, with an emphasis on AI-assisted production and a leaner streaming service, Paramount+. The deal depends heavily on FCC approval, particularly regarding CBS News's political content neutrality, amid controversies including a lawsuit from Donald Trump over alleged biased editing of a “60 Minutes” interview. Ellison’s acquisition is seen as ushering a new era after decades of old Hollywood leadership at Paramount and CBS.
Ellison’s resources, backed by his father Larry Ellison’s billions, are expected to inject significant capital and a vision of innovation into Paramount’s operations, potentially including CBS News, although specific editorial or strategic changes for CBS News have not been publicly detailed.
Regarding the collaboration with Bari Weiss's Free Press startup—given Bari Weiss’s focus on independent journalism and free expression—it can be inferred that Ellison might envision a media model that supports newsroom independence with innovative content delivery, leveraging technology and new editorial frameworks. However, no explicit public statements or documented plans have surfaced outlining their partnership or Cohen's vision for CBS News in that specific context.
The Free Press, originally named Common Sense before being renamed, has gained a significant following due to its volume of so-called anti-woke columns and stories. Weiss started hiring a staff for her Substack-hosted publication one year after leaving The New York Times, where she gained a significant following after quitting in 2020 and criticizing its "illiberal environment." The Free Press has a growing web video arm, composed mostly of YouTube-style interviews and opinionated chats. A recent column in The Free Press was titled "Have You Heard The Good News?" and was subtitled, "Because the progressive left and the MAGA right clearly have not."
The Free Press has been described as a media organ that "both wants to excoriate liberals but not fold fully into the MAGA wing." Ellison's interest in The Free Press signals his plans to invest in reporting and analysis for CBS. The meeting took place on the sidelines of an annual gathering of media moguls in Sun Valley, Idaho.
The value of The Free Press is estimated at around $100 million, according to a Financial Times report. If the collaboration between CBS News and The Free Press materialises, it could mark a significant shift in the media landscape, blending the traditional news outlet with a more opinionated, independent digital magazine.
Once the merger is finalised, Ellison will oversee Paramount, including its CBS News division. The future of CBS News under Ellison's leadership remains to be seen, but his emphasis on innovation, technological advancement, and editorial independence suggests a promising future for the long-standing news organisation.
Ellison's potential collaboration with Bari Weiss's The Free Press might indicate a desire to incorporate innovative and independent journalism into CBS News, leveraging technology and new editorial frameworks, as the media brand transitions into a tech-forward entity under his leadership. The estimated value of The Free Press at around $100 million suggests a significant investment in reporting and analysis for CBS, signifying a potential shift in the media landscape, combining traditional news with a more opinionated, digital format.
