Skydance Explores Acquisition Talks with The Free Press

David Ellison, CEO of Skydance, has engaged in initial talks about potentially acquiring The Free Press, the online publication co-founded by Bari Weiss, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Founded in 2021 by Weiss alongside her wife Nellie Bowles and sister Suzy Weiss, The Free Press has positioned itself as a bold alternative to mainstream media outlets. Meanwhile, Ellison is focused on finalizing Skydance’s merger with Paramount, the parent company of CBS News.

While discussions are underway, any acquisition deal remains uncertain. Weiss has indicated a preference to maintain The Free Press as an independent entity for the foreseeable future, while Ellison’s priority remains the Paramount merger.

Both Ellison and Weiss are participating in this week’s Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, a well-known forum for business negotiations. Allen & Company is among The Free Press’s investors, along with venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and David Sacks, as well as former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.

The Free Press counts over 30 investors holding relatively small stakes, including notable figures such as Yael Aflalo, founder of Reformation, and Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision Blizzard.

Details regarding any potential terms of an acquisition have not been disclosed.

In recent months, Weiss has been approached by several media owners seeking advice on enhancing their outlets, some of which have led to conversations about acquiring The Free Press.