Larry Ellison, Oracle executive chairman, in informal talks to oust top CNN talent. He’s reportedly the biggest individual stakeholder in Paramount. Rounding out this list of seemingly odd hosts are Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar, who former President Donald Trump has taken particular aim at. Ellison’s son, David Ellison, now runs Paramount, though Larry no longer has an official say there.
The debate over CNN is part of a much broader debate that includes Ellison. He is building relationships with key connections in the White House. Several of Washington’s current and former consultants, many of them currently under contract with Oracle, set up these meetings and cultivate these connections. Ellison’s established rapport with the Trump administration has been bolstered by a $16 million settlement paid by Paramount after a controversial interview conducted by CBS’s “60 Minutes” with Kamala Harris last year.
Even though Ellison doesn’t have a public-facing position at Paramount right now, his influence looms large given his controlling ownership stake. His ongoing relationships with key individuals in Washington have led to speculation about the extent of his involvement in media operations.
Read what former officials have said about it. Specifically, they point out that such informal engagements like these are often routine in the context of government relations. “That’s just how the government relations game is played,” noted a former antitrust division official. A parallel debate over whether such moves should trigger antitrust scrutiny has taken shape.
“This won’t pose serious antitrust issues,” said the same official, reflecting confidence in the legality of Ellison’s actions.
Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), expressed skepticism regarding any regulatory hurdles over these discussions. “I’d be very surprised if there was an FCC role at all in that type of transaction.”
Ellison’s take-no-prisoners approach to the CNN hosts has caused quite a sensation. Beyond this narrow focus, its timing is particularly striking, given the intense politically charged landscape right now. His productions, like his dialogues, are homey. Such restraint, though, is more characteristic of the judicious style found in the most delicate, high-stakes negotiations conducted with media mavens and other pharaohs.