Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison addressed criticism of himself and the company’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery in a New York Times op-ed published yesterday.
He explained that he had previously stayed silent on the lawsuits (filed by California’s attorney general, 11 other state attorneys general, and the Writers Guild of America) and related negative coverage because, as the head of a company that owns CBS News, he believes leaders of news organizations should not “put a finger on the scale” on matters involving their own company. He wrote that this restraint “has costs” and allowed others to define his story: “No more.”
Ellison argued that the opposition is primarily about concerns over his potential oversight of CNN (which Paramount would control post-merger while already owning CBS). He directly tackled speculation about “my politics, my loyalties, my intentions.”
“When it comes to our news operations, I do not aspire to lead these companies to bend their newsrooms to my views. I believe that news should be based on facts and truth.”
Great news organizations like CNN and CBS News should “tell it straight down the middle,” reflecting “the whole world, not one side of it,” which requires independence.
He also referenced Gallup data showing public trust in the news at a low of 28%, stating that trust “can’t be argued back, but it can be earned back—story by story, day by day.”
Peter Alexander, the veteran Washington correspondent and weekend “Today” host will launch a new 11 a.m. program on the Versant-backed network, MS-NOW starting Monday, August 10.
“State of Play” is billed as focusing on “authoritative and original reporting, thoughtful conversations, and in-depth analysis of the biggest political and national stories shaping the day,” according to a memo from Greg Kordick, the network’s senior vice president of programming.
Alexander left his post at NBC News in March. In his new role at MS NOW, he will also serve as a breaking-news anchor and national correspondent, and contribute to some of the sports coverage broadcast by Versant’s other properties, which include Golf Channel and the USA cable network.
PNW viewers will remember Peter Alexander at KCPQ 13. Alexander left KCPQ in 2004. Alexander had earlier worked at KHQ tv/Spokane. He is married to journalist Alison Starling (since 2012).
iHeartMedia Los Angeles has signed veteran radio personality Ellen K to a multi-year contract extension, keeping her as host of the “Ellen K Morning Show” on KOST 103.5 and expanding the reach of her syndicated “Ellen K Weekend Show.”
The weekend program airs on 48 iHeartMedia stations, including:
KOST 103.5 – Los Angeles, CA
KKCW K103 – Portland, OR
KESZ 99.9 KEZ – Phoenix, AZ
WLTW 106.7 Lite FM – New York, NY
WLIT 93.9 Lite FM – Chicago, IL
KODA Sunny 99.1 – Houston, TX
WASH 97.1 – Washington, D.C. area
WNIC 100.3 – Detroit, MI
KSNE Sunny 106.5 – Las Vegas, NV
KDGE – Dallas, TX
KQXT – San Antonio, TX
WDVI – Rochester, NY
That kind of money gets a woman lotsa plastic surgery!
Nick Bilton, the executive producer of 60 Minutes, expressed irritation at “the unrelenting speculation regarding the show, along with the torrent of unauthorized information making its way into the press.”
In a 734-word internal memo to staff he noted that a new rumor has surfaced nearly every day since he assumed the role and stated he no longer has the time or patience for them, preferring that energy go toward the actual journalism.
Bilton complained about constant leaks and rumors surrounding the program—ironically, the memo itself was promptly leaked to Status.
(Status)
Disney is considering free, ad-supported streaming channels and intends to expand sports programming on Disney+ as it works to establish the service as a core company priority.
During the company’s fiscal third-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, CEO Josh D’Amaro said Disney is evaluating a free offering “to expand our reach to a customer segment that is more price sensitive.” Free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services, such as Fox’s Tubi and Paramount’s Pluto TV, continue to gain traction as viewers abandon traditional pay-TV packages and resist climbing streaming subscription costs.
D’Amaro also indicated that Disney is weighing the addition of third-party streaming services to Disney+, citing the strong results of its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO Max.
From the Bay area comes news that the nearly 100 year old 560 AM (originally KTAB) has surrendered their license after KSFO moved from that frequency to 810 AM in 2025. 560 (then KZAC) went silent in 2025 and now Cumulus turns in the license to the FCC. We will see more of this across the USA as corporations wheel and deal AM & FM channels.
Lloyd Robertson, who delivered the news to Canadians in an authoritative and unflappable manner for more than 40 years as anchor for the flagship news programs of CTV and CBC, has died. He was 92.
His death was first reported by CTV and was confirmed by a family member to CBC News.
Robertson stepped away as CTV National News anchor in 2011 after 35 years, having joined the network in a move from CBC that reshaped Canadian broadcast news. He had been anchor of CBC’s The National for six years. (CBC-Canada)
Former “60 Minutes” correspondents Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi have been named Journalists in Residence at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism for the 2026–27 academic year.
Columbia Journalism School announced the appointments Monday as part of its CJS2030: Democracy Initiative. In their roles, Pelley and Alfonsi will work closely with students—both individually and in groups—through lectures, workshops, and special events focused on sharpening reporting, investigative, and sourcing skills.
Ellison Fires Back Against Critics
Jason Remington • August 5, 2026
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison addressed criticism of himself and the company’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery in a New York Times op-ed published yesterday.
He explained that he had previously stayed silent on the lawsuits (filed by California’s attorney general, 11 other state attorneys general, and the Writers Guild of America) and related negative coverage because, as the head of a company that owns CBS News, he believes leaders of news organizations should not “put a finger on the scale” on matters involving their own company. He wrote that this restraint “has costs” and allowed others to define his story: “No more.”
Ellison argued that the opposition is primarily about concerns over his potential oversight of CNN (which Paramount would control post-merger while already owning CBS). He directly tackled speculation about “my politics, my loyalties, my intentions.”
“When it comes to our news operations, I do not aspire to lead these companies to bend their newsrooms to my views. I believe that news should be based on facts and truth.”
Great news organizations like CNN and CBS News should “tell it straight down the middle,” reflecting “the whole world, not one side of it,” which requires independence.
He also referenced Gallup data showing public trust in the news at a low of 28%, stating that trust “can’t be argued back, but it can be earned back—story by story, day by day.”
(thewrap.com-thedesk.net-nypost.com)
Peter Alexander Takes A Deck Chair On MS-Titanic
Jason Remington • August 5, 2026
Peter Alexander, the veteran Washington correspondent and weekend “Today” host will launch a new 11 a.m. program on the Versant-backed network, MS-NOW starting Monday, August 10.
“State of Play” is billed as focusing on “authoritative and original reporting, thoughtful conversations, and in-depth analysis of the biggest political and national stories shaping the day,” according to a memo from Greg Kordick, the network’s senior vice president of programming.
Alexander left his post at NBC News in March. In his new role at MS NOW, he will also serve as a breaking-news anchor and national correspondent, and contribute to some of the sports coverage broadcast by Versant’s other properties, which include Golf Channel and the USA cable network.
PNW viewers will remember Peter Alexander at KCPQ 13. Alexander left KCPQ in 2004. Alexander had earlier worked at KHQ tv/Spokane. He is married to journalist Alison Starling (since 2012).
iHeart Star Ellen K Contract Extended
Jason Remington • August 5, 2026
iHeartMedia Los Angeles has signed veteran radio personality Ellen K to a multi-year contract extension, keeping her as host of the “Ellen K Morning Show” on KOST 103.5 and expanding the reach of her syndicated “Ellen K Weekend Show.”
The weekend program airs on 48 iHeartMedia stations, including:
KOST 103.5 – Los Angeles, CA
KKCW K103 – Portland, OR
KESZ 99.9 KEZ – Phoenix, AZ
WLTW 106.7 Lite FM – New York, NY
WLIT 93.9 Lite FM – Chicago, IL
KODA Sunny 99.1 – Houston, TX
WASH 97.1 – Washington, D.C. area
WNIC 100.3 – Detroit, MI
KSNE Sunny 106.5 – Las Vegas, NV
KDGE – Dallas, TX
KQXT – San Antonio, TX
WDVI – Rochester, NY
That kind of money gets a woman lotsa plastic surgery!
Not A Word Of This To Anyone!
Jason Remington • August 5, 2026
Nick Bilton, the executive producer of 60 Minutes, expressed irritation at “the unrelenting speculation regarding the show, along with the torrent of unauthorized information making its way into the press.”
In a 734-word internal memo to staff he noted that a new rumor has surfaced nearly every day since he assumed the role and stated he no longer has the time or patience for them, preferring that energy go toward the actual journalism.
Bilton complained about constant leaks and rumors surrounding the program—ironically, the memo itself was promptly leaked to Status.
(Status)
Squeezing The Mouse
Jason Remington • August 5, 2026
Disney is considering free, ad-supported streaming channels and intends to expand sports programming on Disney+ as it works to establish the service as a core company priority.
During the company’s fiscal third-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, CEO Josh D’Amaro said Disney is evaluating a free offering “to expand our reach to a customer segment that is more price sensitive.” Free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services, such as Fox’s Tubi and Paramount’s Pluto TV, continue to gain traction as viewers abandon traditional pay-TV packages and resist climbing streaming subscription costs.
D’Amaro also indicated that Disney is weighing the addition of third-party streaming services to Disney+, citing the strong results of its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO Max.
Radio Shell Game
Jason Remington • August 5, 2026
From the Bay area comes news that the nearly 100 year old 560 AM (originally KTAB) has surrendered their license after KSFO moved from that frequency to 810 AM in 2025. 560 (then KZAC) went silent in 2025 and now Cumulus turns in the license to the FCC. We will see more of this across the USA as corporations wheel and deal AM & FM channels.
Lloyd Robertson dead at 92 / Veteran broadcaster died Tuesday evening
Jason Remington • August 5, 2026
Lloyd Robertson, who delivered the news to Canadians in an authoritative and unflappable manner for more than 40 years as anchor for the flagship news programs of CTV and CBC, has died. He was 92.
His death was first reported by CTV and was confirmed by a family member to CBC News.
Robertson stepped away as CTV National News anchor in 2011 after 35 years, having joined the network in a move from CBC that reshaped Canadian broadcast news. He had been anchor of CBC’s The National for six years. (CBC-Canada)
Pelley & Alfonsi find work outside tv
Jason Remington • August 4, 2026
Former “60 Minutes” correspondents Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi have been named Journalists in Residence at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism for the 2026–27 academic year.
Columbia Journalism School announced the appointments Monday as part of its CJS2030: Democracy Initiative. In their roles, Pelley and Alfonsi will work closely with students—both individually and in groups—through lectures, workshops, and special events focused on sharpening reporting, investigative, and sourcing skills.