American tech magnate and Oracle co-founder, CTO and executive chairman
A coalition of U.S. states led by California has sought a preliminary injunction to block Paramount’s planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The court actions aim to pause the deal while antitrust reviews proceed globally, with the EU also weighing concessions. Paramount says it is prepared to pursue a schedule to close the deal if blocked. A ticking fee could be triggered if closing slips past Sept. 30.
Paramount+ is rolling out a free, ad-supported tier and testing micro dramas as part of a broader product revamp. The moves are designed to attract new users, boost engagement, and drive future subscriptions, while streaming peers remain constrained by antitrust scrutiny over Paramount’s potential WBD acquisition.
60 Minutes has undergone leadership upheaval, with Bari Weiss at the helm of CBS News since last year. Staff departures and conflicts over editorial direction have intensified, while new hires and resident journalists reshape the program as it confronts internal tensions and broader merger dynamics.
Industry leaders warn that AI infrastructure investments have sparked a ferocious race among hyperscalers. Earnings calls show wide investor scepticism about when returns will materialise, even as compute demand remains strong.
Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery has been paused amid a flurry of antitrust challenges from U.S. states and industry groups. CEO David Ellison has publicly defended the deal, arguing independence for CNN and CBS News, and detailing commitments to keep production flowing if the deal proceeds.
California’s AGs have filed a high-stakes antitrust challenge to the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The coalition argues the deal would harm consumers and reduce competition. The case has paused the merger, with potential remedies on the table as regulators scrutinize the deal’s impact on production and distribution.
The UK has cleared Paramount’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, subject to legally binding commitments to preserve Channel 5’s independence and the UK’s editorial boundaries. The CMA and DCMS say the deal will not lessen competition and will protect UK content; a US antitrust challenge remains pending.
CBS Evening News has seen ratings improve with a substitute anchor, Matt Gutman, delivering best performance in 17 weeks as Tony Dokoupil recovers from fluctuations in viewership. Independent confirms Gutman’s temporary boost, while The Guardian notes ongoing challenges for Bari Weiss’s leadership and 60 Minutes changes amid a broader network transition.
Paramount has signalled willingness to engage with California and other states over the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The company is preparing for possible relocation if settlement talks fail, while regulators press to block the deal on antitrust grounds. A March trial remains in focus, with ticking fees looming as the company seeks a path forward.
Oracle is preparing a second round of job cuts as it accelerates investment in AI infrastructure. Some teams may face double-digit reductions, with managers asked to list affected employees to trim payroll by Sept. 1. The company has previously eliminated about 21,000 roles in 2026 while increasing AI spending.
U.S. states have filed suit to block Paramount’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, asserting it would control about one-third of major movie titles and cable programming. The case has prompted talks of structural remedies, though theaters and other stakeholders seek protections before any approval. A trial is set for March, with ongoing talks in the background.
Actor Mark Ruffalo has urged lawmakers to block Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery, linking the deal to Oracle’s ties to Israel. Paramount calls the rhetoric antisemitic tropes; George Clooney defends Ruffalo’s right to speak. Over 170 Jewish artists have signed a letter supporting Ruffalo. The merger remains under antitrust scrutiny and on hold as debate intensifies.
Holmes’s new Netflix documentary You Can See Everything has premiered secretly at Telluride, following her 34 days before prison. The trailer features an unsettling exchange with Nathan Fielder, prompting body-language experts to weigh in on deception and truth. The project, filmed over three years, revisits Holmes’s rise and Theranos fraud saga as she serves an 11-year sentence.
The Guardians report on how Star Trek’s utopian roots collide with today’s political divisions and the franchise’s evolving status in a polarized media landscape.
Star Trek’s 60th anniversary is marred by debate over inclusivity and the franchise’s future. Multiple outlets report on cancellation of a Paramount+ series, with actors defending the franchise’s progressive values while critics question its current direction. Readers are watching closely as sponsors and fans weigh the franchise’s next moves.
Oracle founder Larry Ellison has canceled a plan to sell up to 50 million Oracle shares, a move disclosed in regulatory filings. The reversal follows a plan announced in June to sell stock under a 10b5-1 trading plan, which is now scrapped. Oracle’s push into AI infrastructure has coincided with rising debt and reduced cash flow, contributing to a stock decline this year.
Paramount Skydance faces antitrust litigation blocking its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. A California-led legal challenge threatens to push Paramount’s headquarters and thousands of jobs out of California, triggering a potential $10.6–$21.2 billion hit to state output and hundreds of millions in tax losses. The LAEDC warns the move could reshape Hollywood’s economic center.
Paramount has settled a multi-state antitrust suit over its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, agreeing to distribute a set number of films annually and to safeguard CBS News and CNN’s editorial independence. The deal clears a major hurdle but integration and staffing questions remain as regulators, executives, and staff brace for the next phase.
Twelve state attorneys general have reached a settlement with Paramount Skydance that has cleared the way for its merger with Warner Bros. The deal has required independent editorial boards for CNN and CBS, a commitment to release at least 30 theatrical films a year and a $30m penalty if that output target is missed. Critics and media advocates have condemned the concessions.
David Ellison has closed the roughly $110 billion merger that combines Paramount and Warner Bros. into a single company rebranded Skydance. The deal has folded HBO Max and Paramount+ together under one owner, brought CBS and CNN into the same corporate roof, and left the new firm carrying heavy debt while promising film release minimums and editorial safeguards.
Skydance has closed its landmark merger, uniting Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery to form a media powerhouse. The deal brings HBO Max, Paramount+, CNN, CBS News, and iconic film titles under one umbrella, with Ellison and Kreiz leading the new group. The integration plan and pricing strategy remain uncertain as the company outlines its faster path to scale.
Skydance has completed its $111 billion merger, uniting Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery under one umbrella and creating a media giant that also includes CNN, CBS News, HBO Max and Paramount+. The deal promises a future of unified streaming, cost savings, and potential job impacts across film and news divisions.
60 Minutes has rebounded in viewership this season, reaching about 10.2 million viewers for a recent episode, according to Nielsen data. The numbers follow a weaker season debut and reflect a broader reboot under Nick Bilton and Bari Weiss. The program is navigating leadership changes while pursuing stable ratings and social reach.
The tech world is abuzz as leaders on Collison’s podcast are seen consuming Guinness during discussions on Muse and AI, sparking memes and a debate over the culture of ‘cheeky pints’ in Silicon Valley.
Netflix has announced significant job cuts and a leadership shake-up as it reports quarterly results. The company is downsizing roughly 1,000 roles across product, tech, HR and legal, while Bela Bajaria departs as chief content officer and Peter Rice steps in. The moves come as Netflix faces slowed growth, intensifying competition, and questions about its long-term strategy, including its push into games and podcasts.
The documentary on Elon Musk has seen shifting release plans as studios negotiate distribution. TikTok has suspended an associated account over political content, while HBO’s airing remains in question as Universal reassesses international rights.
Christiane Amanpour has announced she is separating from CNN, with plans to end her Amanpour programs next year and graduate to new projects. Her exit comes as CNN enters a new era under Skydance, following Paramount’s completion of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Amanpour will continue her podcast, The Ex Files.
Skydance has secured equity injections as Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merge under its banner. Elon Musk’s roughly $1 billion investment deepens ties with Larry Ellison’s family as the new media empire targets at least $6 billion in annual cost savings amid a heavy debt load.