Ex-CNN boss Jeff Zucker is out of the running for any role at Paramount Global if and when the media giant’s $8 billion merger with Skydance closes — and that includes any possibility of taking the helm of the CBS network, The Post has learned.
The disgraced media executive — forced out of the top job at CNN in 2022 over after his romantic relationship with an underling – has been rumored to be in line for a large role at a merged Paramount-Skydance entity, with chatter suggesting a prospective plum job could be helming the Tiffany Network.
That’s partly because 59-year-old Zucker has lately been at the media investment arm of Redbird Capital, a buyout fund headed by Gerry Cardinale that is bankrolling the Paramount-Skydance deal.
The new conglomerate – which will be home to Paramount Pictures, CBS and the Paramount+ streaming arm – will be run by David Ellison and former NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell — also a confidante of Cardinale.
Nevertheless, Zucker appears to be on the outside of the deal, sources said — and his “larger-than-life” profile hasn’t helped his case, according to insiders.
“There’s legitimately no role for Jeff, “a source with knowledge said, citing a slew of execs that have been rumored to be tapped to join the combined company.
Shell, who was ousted by NBCUniversal in 2023 over allegations of inappropriate conduct with CNBC reporter, will run Skydance as president. CBS CEO George Cheeks will likely continue to run the TV network. Former Netflix content chief Cindy Holland will head up the streaming arm and Skydance film exec Dana Goldberg will helm the studio.
The already stacked deck leaves no role for Zucker, a second source said, adding that anything else would be a “demotion” for the seasoned exec who presided over the news and sports divisions of CNN-parent WarnerMedia from 2019 until 2021.
“The Ellison-Redbird contingent have made it clear that there’s no room for his larger-than-life personality,” the source said.
Other sources familiar with the situation contend that Zucker was never up for a role at the new company, adding that he is CEO of RedBird IMI and is committed to seeing that through.
Reps for Zucker did not respond to requests for comment. Skydance and RedBird declined to comment.
Known for his savvy programming skills, the mercurial TV mogul famously boosted CNN’s ratings as he bent its programming to the left. He also controversially gave Donald Trump major airtime leading up to his first presidency in 2017. In 2020, CNN had its most watched year ever as Trump’s first term came to a close.
Before that, as CEO of NBCUniversal, Zucker turned NBC’s “Today” show into a ratings giant with must-see celebrity interviews and outdoor rock concerts, even as he pioneered modern reality TV with shows like “Fear Factor” and Trump’s “The Apprentice.”
But for those who aren’t in Zucker’s good graces, he can come off as a “vindictive tyrant,” one source told The Post. News outlets have dubbed him a “network Napoleon,” a “king and a kingmaker” and a “tactical genius.”
Zucker currently is a top executive at Redbird IMI, a joint venture between RedBird Capital and International Media Investments, a fund backed by the United Arab Emirates. He has made a handful of investments in production companies, including taking a stake in Media Res, the studio behind Apple TV+’s hit series “The Morning Show.”
His biggest deal was a $1.45 billion takeover of All3Media, the UK’s largest independent production company. But it was his biggest failure that made headlines: Last year, Zucker tried to buy the Daily Telegraph and The Spectator in London — but withdrew after UK leaders balked at his reliance on Emirati backers.
“Zucker hasn’t done anything major in a while,” said one media exec. “I’m sure he’d love to run a media company again.”
Media execs and Hollywood agents who know Zucker speculated that the 59-year-old would love to return to the spotlight and that he would relish making a comeback as head of CNN. In 2023, The Post reported that the exec was interested in buying CNN and helm the struggling news network amid sale rumors.
“I think Jeff would love to run CNN. It would be the ultimate revenge,” one source told The Post.
“I’d never count him out,” the person added, referring to Zucker’s grit to get back on top of the media food chain.
the media giant with Ellison’s Skydance last year. FilmMagic
The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network never came to market but those rumors have been renewed as the media conglomerate is making structural changes to its organization that will result in the separation of its cable channels, which includes CNN, TNT, TBS and others, from its streaming and its studios.
It’s unclear if this will result in a sale, but Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said in December that it will set the company up for “potential strategic opportunities.”
Sources have speculated that one such scenario could be a mega-merger between the newly-formed Skydance-Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. Right now, however, Skydance and RedBird brass are focusing on hitting the ground running once the Paramount deal is greenlit.
“As Ellison and Redbird prep for the merger, they are being careful about gun jumping,” a source with knowledge said, adding that they are “busy in meetings” to identify “cost savings” once the deal goes through.
The deal faces major hurdles including a $20 billion lawsuit by President Trump against CBS over a “60 Minutes’” sitdown with former Vice President and then-Democratic presidential challenger Kamala Harris. Trump claimed that the news show “deceptively edited” the interview to make Harris look better.
In February, “60 Minutes” released the unedited tape and transcript amid pressure from Trump and Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr, who will decide if the merger can go through.
Since then, Shell and current Paramount boss Shari Redstone have pressured the network to settle the lawsuit with Trump, sources told The Post.
CBS News brass and staffers have balked at the notion of settling with Trump and have voiced their concerns even as Carr has opened a probe into the Harris edit and opened it up for public comment.
Meanwhile, New York City’s public pension funds sued to block the Skydance merger agreement, whose exclusive terms have prevented Paramount from considering a rival bid claiming to be worth $8.8 billion from Project Rise Partners, an investment consortium.
Currently, a Delaware Court judge is weighing whether to force Paramount to consider the last-minute offer.