Since the takeover by Paramount, a conservative wind has been blowing at “CBS”. Image: AP
analysis
Since billionaires David Ellison and his father Larry took over at CBS, a conservative wind has been blowing at the traditional US TV channel. It’s a prime example of how billionaires use money to buy influence.
Jan 18, 2026, 7:56 p.mJan 18, 2026, 7:56 p.m
Walter Cronkite was a journalistic institution in the USA. For years, the CBS News anchor was the figurehead of a network that prided itself on its reporting, especially on historic moments – from the Kennedy assassination to the Vietnam War and the moon landing.
Cronkite always lived by the maxim that journalism should tell people what they need to know – not what they want to know. With this attitude, he not only became one of the most famous presenters in the USA, but also a role model for many media professionals.
And this very Cronkite would probably turn in his grave if he saw who had taken over as moderator in his place: Tony Dokoupil.
Dokoupil has been anchoring CBS Evening News since January. At his premiere, he said that the loss of trust in the media was self-inflicted “because we have neglected the perspective of the average American and placed too much emphasis on the analysis of academics and the elites and not enough on people like you.”
He ends his announcement with a promise:
«You come first. Not the advertising industry, not politicians, not corporate interests. I’ll report for you.”
What he means by this has become more and more clear in the last few days and weeks. A spontaneous homage to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is just one of many examples that show how Dokoupil Interpreted journalism “for you”.
The FAZ writes That’s why it’s clear that Dokoupil “acts more like a reality star than a newsman.” The German newspaper concludes that this no longer has anything to do with journalism.
Brought to a conservative line with Bari Weiss
To understand how it comes about that someone like Dokoupil suddenly takes the helm at a renowned program like CBS Evening News, you have to go back to the summer of 2025.
At that time, David Ellison and his father Larry, the founder of the software company Oracle and one of the wealthiest men in the world, bought CBS parent company Paramount. The deal was also approved by US President Trump at the time, as he was promised to make reporting more “conservative”.
Invited by Trump: Larry Ellison in the White House (February 2025). Image: AP
Responsible for this new line is CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. The 41-year-old took over the helm in October 2025 and has left no stone unturned since then.
Weiss used to work for the New York Times, among others, as a “ratings conservative,” as she once said herself. At some point, however, she had enough and staged her farewell with great fanfare. In one Opinion piece At the time, she claimed that she was being bullied by colleagues who disagreed with her. The farewell letter caused a lot of media attention at the time.
At CBS she now has all the freedom to trim the channel the way she and, above all, the new owners want. Since then, hardly a week goes by at CBS without a new controversy, often due to decisions that Weiss consciously makes.
The new boss at CBS since October: Bari Weiss.Image: keystone
The example surrounding a “60 Minutes” program in December in particular caused quite a stir. The political magazine has cult status in the USA and has received more awards than any other journalism format in the USA.
At that time, the editorial team of “60 Minutes” researched the topic of torture in a prison in El Salvador and the Trump administration’s related deportation policy. It was broadcast report critical of the government but never in the USA because Weiss withdrew the program before publication. The reason she gave was that “additional research” was needed. The outcry was not only great internally.
With CNN in your sights on the next channel
The case and the development of CBS are an example of how wealthy people like the Ellisons buy influence by acquiring companies and trim the reporting so that it is well-disposed or at least acceptable to them. It is no coincidence that there are more and more voices saying that CBS is increasingly turning into a second Fox News: “All of this may be connected to the corporate interests in the background,” writes the “FAZ” aptly.
The example is also a clear warning about the direction CNN could take if Warner Bros. Discovery were actually sold to Paramount as well.
Hardly anyone doubts that the Ellisons would then force a conservative line on the Trump-critical broadcaster. It would be the second radical change at a traditional news channel in the USA in just a few months.
Both Netflix and Paramount want to buy Warner Bros. Studio. It is also about the future of CNN and US democracy.Image: EPA
Walter Cronkite’s mantra that you should tell people what they need to know rather than what they want to know no longer seems to apply. At least on CBS.
It remains to be hoped, at least from a Democratic perspective, that CNN does not suffer the same fate. Because it would be another incomparable attack on American media diversity and thus also on American democracy.
Paramount boss David Ellison has already indicated that he wants to merge the two channels CBS and CNN. The US magazine presents the problem with this measure “The Atlantic” so to the point:
“If the number of competitors shrinks, an aspiring authoritarian can take over the system much more easily.”