CNN Mood ‘Like a Funeral’ as Paramount’s Warner Bros. Win Casts New Haze on Next Steps

Just when staffers at CNN thought the news giant’s path to the future was becoming more clear, new fog has set in.

In recent weeks, the Warner Bros. Discovery outlet appeared to have found its groove. Yes, its linear ratings are down noticeably from the era when it won notice for its aggressive coverage of President Trump’s first term, and there’s serious questions about whether they will ever come back. But the company appeared to be making some gains with digital audiences with its recently launched “CNN All Access” subscription service, where CNN has been testing new programming formats. On the traditional side, despite the viewership challenges, CNN has seen personnel like Abby Phillip and Harry Enten gain some traction. Warner Bros. Discovery projected in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this year that CNN will generate $600 million in profit in 2026 on $1.8 billion in revenue.

Now all its recent work could be for naught.

A new corporate parent, Paramount Skydance is set to take the reins of CNN in October, and with that change of control could come entirely new goals — and means of executing them.

Even Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO…

Original source: https://variety.com/