"Rejected citing ‘conflict of interest’, the ad took aim at Trump allies David Ellison, Paramount Skydance chief, and his billionaire father, Larry Ellison"
"Paramount Skydance refused to air an ad submitted by a press freedom group that heavily criticized the network’s leadership and merger with Warner Bros Discovery, with an advertising associate deeming it a “conflict of interest”.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation had hoped to air the 30-second ad during Sunday’s Ultimate Fighting Championship broadcast at the White House, which aired on the streaming service Paramount+ – though a client partner for Paramount+ told the organization’s ad-buyer that such placement was not guaranteed.
“Instead of defending press freedom, CBS’ billionaire owners cut deals and caved to Trump,” the unaired ad states, before touching on the recent uproar at the Sunday show 60 Minutes. “One fired reporter said, ‘CBS demanded falsehoods and bias to appease Trump.’ Now Trump wants the Ellisons to buy CNN, too … Let’s stop Trump’s censorship and block this merger.”"
Jeremy Barr reports for the Guardian June 16, 2026.
SEE ALSO:
"Paramount Refused to Air an Ad Criticizing Its Merger With Warner Bros" (WIRED)
