Paramount Skydance nears deal to acquire Bari Weiss's The Free Press for $100-$200mln.

Paramount Skydance is reportedly close to a deal to acquire The Free Press, a news and opinion media firm founded by Bari Weiss. The deal is expected to value the company between $100 million and $200 million. The acquisition would expand Paramount Skydance's media portfolio and provide a new platform for The Free Press to reach a wider audience.

Paramount Skydance is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire The Free Press, a news and opinion media firm founded by Bari Weiss. The potential acquisition, valued between $100 million and $200 million, would expand Paramount Skydance's media portfolio and provide a new platform for The Free Press to reach a wider audience [1][2].

The deal comes on the heels of Paramount Skydance's $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which ended decades of Redstone family control and put CBS and CBS News firmly under the watch of David Ellison, Paramount CEO. The merger has already faced challenges, including the installation of an ombudsman to police bias and the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at CBS News [1][2].

Weiss, a former New York Times opinion page editor, launched The Free Press in 2022. She has carved out a reputation for challenging both the left and the right, building the platform into a high-profile, subscriber-driven outlet that publishes essays, interviews, and investigative work outside traditional media lanes. Her potential arrival at CBS News would mark her most prominent mainstream role since leaving the Times [1][2].

The acquisition would also align with Ellison's efforts to modernize CBS News and reverse years of ratings decline. The deal is expected to be finalized soon, with Weiss reportedly in line for a senior editorial role at CBS News once the acquisition is complete [1][2].

References:
[1] https://nypost.com/2025/09/03/business/paramount-to-buy-bari-weiss-free-press-for-up-to-200m-give-her-senior-editorial-role-at-cbs-news-report/
[2] https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/paramount-talks-buy-bari-weiss-003602999.html