Topic: Skydance

CBS Radio is officially silencing its microphones and laying off staff following the company's sale to David Ellison's Skydance Media. The hosts reflect on the history of the network, from Edward R. Murrow to the invention of broadcast news, and its decline in the age of smartphones and podcasts. Adam Curry shares a personal anecdote about buying a house from CBS legend Dallas Townsend in 1990.

Skydance Media, led by David Ellison, completed its acquisition of CBS, leading to speculation about the network's future editorial direction. Meanwhile, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker escalated his rhetoric against President Trump, publicly claiming the President suffers from dementia and is "literally unhinged." Trump responded by calling for the arrest of Pritzker and the Chicago mayor for failing to protect federal officers.

Skydance Media reportedly acquired Barry Weiss's publication, The Free Press, for $150 million, with Weiss named as the new Editor-in-Chief of CBS News. Analysts question the actual valuation of the deal and whether Weiss will serve as a "change agent" or an ideological enforcer within the legacy media institution. Critics like Glenn Greenwald expressed skepticism regarding her ability to disrupt mainstream media narratives.

Jimmy Kimmel reportedly lost 85% of his key viewers following a brief ratings resurgence. Speculation suggests that the new ownership at Skydance may use this decline as a justification to cancel the show or replace the host, as the current viewership levels are deemed unsustainable for the network.

David Ellison's Skydance Media has reportedly purchased Barry Weiss's "The Free Press" for up to $200 million, with plans to install her in a leadership role at CBS News. Ellison is also floating ideas to revitalize MTV by returning to music video programming and "tastemaker" status, though skeptics doubt the viability of reviving cable networks for Gen X and Boomer audiences.

Following an $8 billion deal to acquire Paramount, Skydance executives are looking for ways to cut costs while maintaining popular content. A point of contention is the high production cost of Tyler Perry's shows for BET, which can reach $7 million per episode. The hosts discuss the difficulty of maintaining cable relevance in a streaming-dominated market.

The hosts speculate that the acquisition of CBS by Skydance, led by Larry Ellison's son, represents a move by the intelligence community to correct the network's ideological drift. They suggest that Oracle's historical ties to the CIA indicate a restructuring of CBS to better align with agency messaging. This observation follows a perceived decline in the quality and audience reach of CBS news programming.

The FCC approved the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media after Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit with Donald Trump over a "60 Minutes" edit. Meanwhile, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone signed a $1.5 billion deal and released a premiere episode mocking Trump and Paramount's legal settlement.

CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert effective May 2025. While Brian Stelter and other media analysts link the move to Paramount's recent $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes interview, the hosts argue the decision is purely financial. The show reportedly loses $40 million annually and has seen a massive audience decline since the writers' strike, as viewers migrate to TikTok.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut claimed the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show is evidence of a "censorship state" under Donald Trump. Murphy argued that Paramount is silencing critics to ensure the Trump administration approves its merger with Skydance Media. The hosts dismiss these claims, citing the show's poor ratings and high production costs as the primary drivers for the network's decision.

Following John Lasseter's departure from Pixar due to allegations of "unwanted hugging," he was hired by Skydance Media. In response, actress Emma Thompson publicly resigned from a Skydance project, citing concerns about Lasseter's workplace behavior. The hosts critique Thompson's reaction and the "hyper-liberal" culture of the industry.