CNN Chief Mark Thompson May Stay On After Sale — Though Contract Talks Are Early

CNN may have more stability than some had feared under the combined Paramount-Warner Bros.

David Ellison has held discussions with CNN CEO Mark Thompson about keeping the veteran executive in charge of the cable news channel, a source familiar with the matter says. The contract talks, however, are said to be very early, and there is no assurance that they can come to terms on a new deal.

No change in leadership is expected at deal close, with Thompson’s current contract to lead CNN running into next year.

The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, said that Thompson wants assurances that he will have autonomy over the global news brand, including on editorial matters.

CNN will have an “editorial independence board” once the deal closes, with a group of journalists establishing guiding principles for the news outlet, and resolving any disputes with corporate leadership.

If Thompson and Ellison are able to come to terms on a new deal, it would come as a sigh of relief to many CNN talent, who have been fearful of a dramatic overhaul at the channel post-merger, especially given Bari Weiss’ aggressive changes at CBS News.

That doesn’t mean CNN won’t undergo changes under the combined company, but it does mean that Thompson will be able to continue executing on the digital reboot that he is in the middle of overseeing.

While CNN’s linear ratings have been challenged in recent years, it remains a profit center among the WBD cable channels, filings show. Those profits will be particularly important as the combined company seeks to pay down an estimated $80 billion debt load.

That said, one observer says that the merger will almost certainly require some level of consolidation between CBS News and CNN, though the devil may be in the details as things move forward.