Overview

• CEO David Ellison announced the cash-and-stock purchase on October 6 and confirmed Weiss will lead CBS News as part of the agreement.
• The company cast the steps as an effort to refresh CBS News’ public image, according to statements and U.S. press reports.
• Discussions that began at July’s Allen & Co. Sun Valley conference led to months of negotiations before the deal was finalized.
• Weiss founded The Free Press in 2021 with Nellie Bowles and Suzy Weiss after leaving the New York Times, growing it to over a million subscribers and more than 50 contributors.
• Regulators approved the Paramount–Skydance merger with a pledge to ensure viewpoint diversity, and scrutiny of the shake-up also references Paramount’s $16 million settlement in 2024 tied to a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.