Entertainment · NEWS EXPLAINER
Skydance names HBO, DC and news leaders ahead of planned merger closing
The October 5 roster maps responsibilities across streaming, television, films and news. The assignments depend on the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition closing.
Paramount Skydance on October 5 named the executives expected to run the combined company after its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery closes. David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz will lead a structure spanning streaming, television, film, DC Studios and news. The roster provides new detail on responsibilities ahead of the anticipated October 6 closing.
Two newsrooms, separate editors
Mark Thompson is set to remain chairman and editor-in-chief of CNN Worldwide. Bari Weiss stays editor-in-chief of CBS News. The announcement puts both on the news leadership team, with each reporting directly to Ellison and Kreiz.
TheWrap reports that Weiss will have no oversight of CNN. Reuters separately reviewed a memo in which Thompson told staff he would retain his responsibilities, while details of CNN's operations within the new company remained to be finalized.
Streaming and TV pair content with business
Casey Bloys is assigned oversight of HBO Max and Paramount+ original programming. JB Perrette is named business co-leader of direct-to-consumer operations, the streaming business, covering areas including distribution, advertising, content sales and business operations.
Perrette also has a business role in Skydance TV, alongside George Cheeks, whose television remit includes Warner Bros. Television Studios, CBS Studios and Paramount Television Studios. Perrette therefore appears in both the streaming and television portions of our illustration.
Film and DC leaders report to the CEOs
Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein are named co-chairs of Skydance Motion Picture Group, which will oversee Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. and the wider film portfolio.
James Gunn and Peter Safran are listed as DC Studios co-chairmen. Both appear on the CEO leadership list. Under the reporting structure announced Monday, they report directly to Ellison and Kreiz, alongside the film leaders.
The announced team comes before the closing
The company describes these assignments as its expected CEO Leadership Team if the acquisition is completed. Reuters and TheWrap report that closing is expected Tuesday, October 6. The announcement also says a broader Executive Leadership Team list will follow after the close.
For viewers, this identifies who is expected to lead programming and news businesses. It does not announce a combined streaming subscription, new prices or an app-migration date. Our earlier reports explain the separate court approval and Skydance naming plan.
