Paramount Skydance’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery faces potential complications regarding CNN’s on-air talent. The news network has secured long-term agreements with its three prime-time anchors, limiting the incoming ownership’s flexibility to reshape the broadcast lineup.
Anderson Cooper, who hosts the 8 p.m. slot, renewed his contract last year, while Kaitlan Collins maintains an existing agreement with several years remaining on her current deal hosting the 9 p.m. program. Abby Phillip, anchor of the 10 p.m. roundtable show, recently finalized her own contract extension, completing the trio of locked-in talent. These agreements ensure the anchors retain compensation guarantees even if programming changes occur under new leadership.
CNN staff have expressed concerns about the impending ownership transition. Worries center on potential editorial shifts and whether programming decisions might prioritize certain political interests over traditional news standards. Some employees question whether Paramount’s leadership will prioritize the network’s journalistic mission or financial performance.
Beyond their primary hosting duties, all three anchors maintain additional responsibilities, including podcasts, digital programming, and investigative segments. Their contracted status positions CNN to rely heavily on these established personalities as the network approaches the midterm election cycle, a period traditionally driving increased news viewership and advertising revenue.
Originally reported by Variety →
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