David Ellison’s Paramount Debut Stirs Buzz and Controversy
Hollywood has a new power player and he’s from Silicon Valley royalty. David Ellison, son of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, officially took control of Paramount this week after a messy and politically charged $8 billion Skydance–Paramount merger. On his first day as CEO, he dropped the word “tech” a whopping ten times in his welcome letter, signaling a future where Paramount’s streaming game gets a much-needed glow-up.
The Hollywood Power Shift Everyone’s Talking About
Ellison began his reign with a symbolic move — heading straight to the CBS News offices, the very newsroom caught in a whirlwind thanks to a certain former president. During the drawn-out merger review, Donald Trump sued 60 Minutes, and Paramount’s then-leadership ended up cutting a $16 million settlement. Rumors swirled that the payout helped clear the way for merger approval, though both sides deny any direct link. Oh, and Trump says he has an “understanding” for Paramount channels to air PSAs for his causes -Ellison’s response? A perfectly polished “no comment.”
What This Means for Paramount’s Future
Behind the glossy press photos, there’s serious business brewing. New president Jeff Shell admitted there’s “a lot of plumbing to fix” and hinted at more layoffs for the already bruised studio. Ellison, meanwhile, says CBS News should appeal to “70% of Americans,” aiming for a broad, middle-ground audience while steering clear of the extremes.
Drama, politics, and a billionaire’s son promising to reinvent one of Hollywood’s most iconic brands — buckle up, because Paramount’s next chapter looks anything but boring.
