ELLISON’S EXODUS

CBS News Staff Eye Escape From Trumpy Boss: ‘It’s Ugly’

“Folks are tired,” a CBS News source told the Post.

David Ellison is offering buyouts to employees at CBS News and other Skydance properties.

The Trump-friendly billionaire is extending the offer to employees at the vice-president level or below with 15 or more years of service, the New York Post reported on Monday. Employees in the U.S., as well as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries are eligible.

The shake-up comes as Ellison, the son of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, succeeded in his bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery under the Skydance Paramount umbrella—after months of fielding legal hurdles and accusations that the deal would create a monopoly.

Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz announced the voluntary buyouts alongside a mandatory in-office policy at the newly merged company.

“As we bring our teams together, we recognize that not everyone will see their future here, and we respect that,” the pair said in a joint email on Monday, according to the Post. “To give eligible employees the option to move on in a way that works for them, we are introducing a Voluntary Buyout (VBO) Program.”

Additional layoffs are all but certain as Ellison eyes additional cost-cutting measures.

The Skydance shakeup has hit CBS hard under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. A former conservative blogger with no broadcast experience, she was appointed last year in what many saw as a move by Ellison to appease the Trump administration.

“It’s ugly. Most people seem to be leaning towards asking for a buyout. Folks are tired,” a CBS News source told the Post on Monday.

CBS News’ ratings have plummeted under the former anti-woke blogger.

Her revamped 60 Minutes, for example, debuted last month with7.94 million viewers, the most abysmal opening since at least the turn of the century. Viewership in the 25-54 demographic also dropped a third to 1.6 million viewers.

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And just last week, Weiss’ handpicked CBS News foreign editor Shayndi Raice threatened to fire staffers for “insubordination” during a 15-minute tirade that was leaked to media newsletter Status—creating even more bad press for the network.

CBS has already seen the resignations of several staff members, including 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens, former 60 Minutes correspondent Anderson Cooper, who decided not to renew his contract after 20 years on the program, and CBS justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane.

Before Ellison closed the deal, he reportedly considered Weiss’ role in shepherding CNN. Then, the Paramount chief appeared to have a change of heart, and reportedly requested that CNN’s network CEO, Mark Thompson, remain at Warner Bros following the acquisition, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month. Weiss, for her part, is expected to have no part in CNN’s operations.

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Laura EspositoBreaking News Reporter

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