CNN Chief Says He’s ‘Enthusiastic’ About Staying Under Paramount, but Not Sure He Can

CNN‘s top executive told staffers Wednesday that he wants to stay at the news giant, but has little knowledge of what the outlet’s soon-to-be new corporate parent has in store.

“I am enthusiastic about staying,” CNN CEO Mark Thompson told employees during a town hall meeting, according to two people with knowledge of his remarks. Even so, he also confided he has no knowledge of how Paramount Skydance, which settled an antitrust lawsuit earlier this week with 12 state attorneys general, wants to proceed once it completes its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

“How Paramount wants to run news” is not known to him at present, he said.

The meeting was scheduled several days ago and not because of Paramount’s victory this week, according to a person familiar with the matter. CNN declined to make executives available for comment.