EVERY CHANNEL IS OWNED BY ONE MAN NOW

Summary

Hasan argues that the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger is part of a broader concentration of media and communications power in the hands of billionaires. He says the Ellison family’s ownership interests—including TikTok, according to his account—give them influence over both social-media algorithms and major film, television, and news outlets. He warns that this concentration could shape what audiences see and make it harder for critical or dissenting reporting, particularly on Israel, to reach the public.

He rejects the companies’ assurances that the merger would protect jobs and benefit Hollywood. Citing statements by Skydance CEO David Ellison and reported cost-saving targets, he says layoffs are expected. He refers to an estimate of about 4,500 Los Angeles-area film and television jobs lost over three years. He also recalls that the companies threatened to move operations out of California if the deal were blocked, and questions why state authorities should yield to such pressure. The transcript gives inconsistent figures for the merger’s value, describing it as both $81 billion and $110 billion.

The video criticizes the regulatory and legal response. Hasan describes federal antitrust agencies and the FCC as having declined to stop the deal, while state attorneys general mounted a legal challenge. He says California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly favored resolving the dispute outside court, and that California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s withdrawal of the lawsuit led other states to drop their cases as well. Hasan portrays the outcome as a failure of public institutions to enforce antitrust protections and criticizes the use of AI-generated letters to make support for the merger appear more widespread.

Hasan presents CBS under Ellison ownership and editor-in-chief Bari Weiss as a warning about the merger’s possible editorial direction. In his view, CBS has become a platform for right-wing messaging, with stories that once appeared mainly in partisan outlets gaining legitimacy when repeated by mainstream networks. He argues that the acquisition’s purpose is not necessarily to improve ratings, but to influence editorial choices and normalize pro-Trump and pro-Israel narratives across more outlets. He also cites Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s criticism of CNN headlines as an example of political pressure on supposedly independent news organizations.

The commentary places these developments in a wider critique of billionaire ownership of social-media and internet infrastructure. Hasan compares TikTok after its acquisition with X after Elon Musk’s purchase, arguing that both have deteriorated and that users have few practical alternatives because platforms and hosting infrastructure are also privately controlled. He concludes that concentrated ownership of communication channels can make public opinion more pliable and weaken people’s ability to organize for change.

Presenters and Contributors

• Hasan Piker (HasanAbi) — presenter and commentator
• Gavin Newsom — featured in a clip discussing his position on resolving the merger dispute
• Pete Hegseth — featured in a clip criticizing CNN’s coverage
• David Ellison — quoted through statements about the merger and its intended benefits
• Brian Stelter — discussed in connection with a CNN memo about editorial independence
• Alex Thompson — cited as the interviewer who questioned Newsom
• Adam Johnson — cited for commentary on the merger and CNN management’s assurances