No one has finished buying CNN yet, but its parent company is in the middle of a major sale that would hand control of CNN to Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison (with backing and influence from his father, Larry Ellison).

Quick Scoop: Who “bought” CNN?

  • CNN itself has not been sold as a standalone channel. It is part of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
  • Paramount Skydance has moved into pole position to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery , which includes CNN.
  • This deal followed a bidding battle in which Netflix was also trying to acquire large parts of WBD but was mainly focused on the studio and HBO, not CNN.
  • WBD’s board has indicated Paramount’s broader offer for the entire company (including CNN) is more attractive than the competing bid.

In short: the effective answer to “who bought CNN?” right now is that CNN is on track to come under the control of Paramount Skydance (David Ellison), but the big corporate deal still has to be fully completed and approved.

What was CNN’s status before this?

  • CNN was owned by Warner Bros. Discovery , a media conglomerate that also includes brands like HBO, Discovery, HGTV, and Food Network.
  • In late 2025, as WBD explored big structural moves, Netflix pursued a deal to buy much of WBD’s entertainment assets, but CNN and several cable networks were carved out into a separate entity (often referred to in reports as “Discovery Global”).
  • At that stage, CNN remained under WBD’s umbrella and was not sold, which fueled ongoing speculation about its long‑term future.

What changed recently?

  • By February 2026, the situation flipped: Netflix pulled back from raising its bid, while Paramount Skydance pushed ahead with a higher, more comprehensive offer to take over Warner Bros. Discovery, including CNN.
  • CNN anchor Jake Tapper even broke the story live on air , telling viewers that Paramount Skydance had emerged as the likely new owner of WBD and CNN.
  • Reports describe Larry and David Ellison as having “won a bidding war” for WBD’s parent company, positioning them to reshape CNN under their broader media portfolio.

Political and editorial angle

  • Both Larry Ellison and David Ellison are described in reporting as aligned with the MAGA/Trump political orbit.
  • Coverage notes that David Ellison has visited the White House and that he signaled to the Trump administration he would impose “sweeping changes” at CNN if his company took control.
  • Articles speculate that CNN could see significant editorial and leadership shifts if and when the Paramount Skydance takeover is finalized, contributing to staff anxiety and public debate about the network’s future direction.

Is the sale already done?

  • As of the latest reporting in late February 2026, the transaction is described as an acquisition in progress / a winning bid , not yet a fully closed, regulator‑approved deal.
  • Corporate mega‑deals of this scale usually need time for final contracts, regulatory review, and integration planning, so there is still some uncertainty about timing and final structure.

Bottom line: CNN hasn’t been sold as a standalone brand; instead, its parent, Warner Bros. Discovery, is being taken over, which would put CNN under Paramount Skydance and the Ellison family once the deal is fully completed.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.