Photo Source: CBS News
Even though billionaire David Ellison is widely criticized for seemingly turning CBS News into a pro-President Donald Trump outlet, he is reportedly going full steam ahead with plans to streamline CBS News and presumably also make it more MAGA.
"David Ellison is offering buyouts to employees at CBS News and other Skydance properties," reported The Daily Beast's Laura Esposito on Monday. "The Trump-friendly billionaire is extending the offer to employees at the vice-president level or below with 15 or more years of service, the New York Post reported on Monday. Employees in the U.S., as well as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries are eligible."
She added, "The shake-up comes as Ellison, the son of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, succeeded in his bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery under the Skydance Paramount umbrella—after months of fielding legal hurdles and accusations that the deal would create a monopoly."
Esposito continued, "Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz announced the voluntary buyouts alongside a mandatory in-office policy at the newly merged company."
“In their joint email, Ellison and Kreiz wrote, "As we bring our teams together, we recognize that not everyone will see their future here, and we respect that. To give eligible employees the option to move on in a way that works for them, we are introducing a Voluntary Buyout (VBO) Program.”
The Ellisons are also under fire for recently purchasing CNN. Earlier in October, longtime CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour said she was leaving shortly after Ellison would become the new executive.
"After more than 43 years at CNN, Christiane has decided that the time is right to begin a new chapter," CNN chief Mark Thompson said in a statement. "Early in 2027, she will scale back her CNN International show, Amanpour, to once a week. The program will conclude in May, and she will leave CNN at the end of June."
In September, CNN journalist Kara Swisher told podcaster Scott Galloway that should could not imagine staying under Ellison.
Galloway told Swisher, "When you show up to whoever it is you show up to at CNN and say, I want out of my contract, they jump up and say, ‘Congratulations, no problem.’"
Swisher concurred, but said: “No, I’m just saying. I just don’t want to work. They don’t want me. I don’t want them, and I have been very explicit."
She also said, “I think they are terrible media owners. I’d rather work for Rupert Murdoch."