MEDIA MOVES

Bezos Denies He Wants to Add TV News Network to His Media Empire

The New York Post reported Wednesday that the billionaire is considering the acquisition of CNBC.

Jeff Bezos is not considering a bid to buy CNBC, a source close to Bezos has told the Daily Beast. It comes after the New York Post reported Wednesday that the billionaire was thinking about adding the network to his media empire, citing a person familiar with Bezos’ thinking. Another source close to the billionaire told the outlet that CNBC would “align well with his interests,” adding that the cable network could serve as a “neutral voice” in Bezos’ portfolio, which includes The Washington Post. However, a source close to Bezos told the Daily Beast the report was false, saying, “There’s not a shred of truth to that story.” CNBC, which airs financial news shows like Squawk Box and Mad Money with Jim Cramer, is currently owned by cable giant Comcast. But Comcast is spinning off CNBC and other cable assets into a new publicly-traded company called Versant by the end of the year. Bezos has not approached Comcast about a potential acquisition, sources close to the company told the New York Post. Another source told the outlet that Versant is not looking to sell. Versant declined to comment to the Daily Beast. Bezos purchased The Washington Post from Warren Buffett for $250 million in 2013. His tenure as owner has stirred controversy in recent years after he axed endorsements and pushed for editorial changes.

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Erkki ForsterNight News Reporter

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