CNN CEO Mark Thompson told staff he is enthusiastic about remaining with the company, but said he does not know how Paramount Skydance would operate CNN after completing its planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. He also said the timing of any transition and whether Paramount executives would soon arrive at CNN were unclear, leaving employees concerned about the network’s future.

Those concerns reflect Paramount’s controversial management of CBS News under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, including scrutiny of its journalism and changes to major programmes. Thompson said a merger between CNN and CBS News was not certain, while highlighting CNN’s efforts to reach younger and digital audiences; the company is projected to make $600 million in profit on $1.8 billion in revenue in 2026.