TheWrap

Paramount Considers Creating Oversight Board at CNN

The discussions come amid concerns about the network’s independence in the pending $110 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger.

Paramount May Sell CNN to Settle California Antitrust Suit

Paramount has faced speculation it might divest CNN after its chief legal officer suggested divestiture and even a theoretical relocation of operations as potential remedies in a California-led multistate antitrust suit over its roughly $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Reporting by CNN analyst Brian Stelter and other outlets, however, quotes Paramount sources saying the company does not intend to sell CNN; CEO David Ellison considers CNN strategic and a possible complement to CBS News. The deal has won clearance from U.S. federal authorities, China and other jurisdictions, and British regulators approved it with five-year commitments protecting Channel 5 programming and editorial independence. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by 11 states and the Writers Guild of America, seeks to block the merger; the parties agree the deal cannot close until a trial on the merits or until mid-2027, with trial expected spring 2027.

Hollywood's Rush for Creator IP Sparks Ownership Challenges

Hollywood studios are increasingly acquiring creator-originated intellectual property (IP), but legal and community ownership questions are creating friction. Examples include Backrooms, a film based on an internet meme that has earned nearly $390 million globally, and Skibidi Toilet, which is owned by Invisible Narratives after a legal dispute with Next Level Apps Technology. Agencies and industry executives warn studios risk alienating creator communities if they attempt heavy-handed control; some creator projects like Iron Lung have succeeded independently. The trend suggests studios will continue chasing creator-led franchises but will need clearer ownership and licensing approaches to avoid legal battles and to preserve the community-driven elements that made the IP valuable.