Who Owns CBS News? Unraveling the Turf of Paramount Global’s News Powerhouse

At the heart of American broadcast journalism lies CBS News — a pillar of trusted news coverage, now shaped by the vast, interconnected media empire of Paramount Global. As disclosures grow more public and strategic shifts ripple through corporate halls, the ownership structure behind CBS News reveals a complex web where legacy journalism intersects with global media strategy. CBS News remains a flagship news division but is firmly embedded within Paramount Global, a Fortune 500 company that commands television, streaming, film, and digital platforms worldwide.

The question, then, extends beyond bylined reporters: who truly controls the news that informs millions?

Paramount Global: The Architect of CBS News’ Modern Identity

CBS News does not operate in isolation. Since the 2022 merger that formed Paramount Global, CBS News functions as a key component of a larger media conglomerate with deep roots in entertainment, sports, and streaming.

Paramount Global — itself a spin-off from ViacomCBS — oversees CBS News alongside brands like Paramount Television, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Paramount+ streaming. This integration reflects a modern media reality where news divisions serve not just as content creators, but as vital revenue and audience-driving engines for broader corporate portfolios. Ownership by Paramount Global means CBS News benefits from shared resources, technological innovation, and scale.

Executive leadership reports directly to the CEO of Paramount Global, aligning journalistic strategy with business objectives across platforms. As CBS News President Susan Goldberg notes: “Our reporting now reaches audiences across every corner of Paramount’s ecosystem — from broadcast to streaming — enabling deeper impact and broader reach.” This alignment allows CBS to leverage shared research, digital tools, and talent pools, strengthening its role in a saturated news landscape.

The Evolution from Viacom to Paramount: How Ownership Shaped CBS News

The roots of CBS News ownership trace back to a transformative media merger.

In 2019, Viacom and CBS Corporation merged to form ViacomCBS (later rebranded as Paramount Global), creating one of the largest vertically integrated media companies in the U.S. At the time, CBS was celebrated as a trusted news brand with decades of television legacy—from “60 Minutes” to prime-time evening editions. But under new corporate governance, CBS’s news arm transitioned from two separate board structures to a unified leadership under Paramount Global.

This shift merged CBS’s journalistic heritage with Paramount’s broader corporate DNA. "Membership in Paramount Global gave CBS news access to unprecedented resources—advanced analytics, digital infrastructure, and cross-promotional opportunities across a global portfolio," said media analyst Laura Bennett. This corporate umbrella enables CBS News to develop multiplatform storytelling, blending broadcast segments with digital exclusives on Paramount+ and social media, a strategy increasingly vital for audience engagement.

Ownership Structure: Who Stands Behind the Names?

CBS News operates under the umbrella of Paramount Global Inc., a publicly traded company headquartered in New York. While Paramount Global owns the parent corporation, specific operational control of CBS News rests with its internal leadership team, responsible for editorial decisions, staffing, and newsroom priorities. The executive leadership—headed by President Susan Goldberg (appointed in 2021), follows strategic directives from Paramount Global’s CEO, Carl Ally—though the news division maintains editorial independence in reporting.

The ownership model reflects a balance: Paramount Global provides capital, technology, and distribution muscle, while CBS News retains authority over journalistic standards and tone. This hybrid structure aims to preserve credibility while enabling innovation. According to Vice President of News Operations Mark Thompson, “We’re built to thrive at the intersection—using Paramount’s scale to amplify trustworthy journalism, without compromising the integrity that CBS News has maintained for generations.”

This symbiosis—between legacy journalistic values and modern corporate scale—defines CBS News’ position today.

As streaming platforms dominate attention, the integration with Paramount allows CBS to distribute news not only on broadcast and cable, but across on-demand and mobile ecosystems. The result: news that reaches audiences at the moment and place that matters most, powered by a newsroom anchored in trust but enabled by global reach.

The true ownership of CBS News, therefore, lies not just in stock certificates or corporate filings, but in the ongoing alliance between a storied news brand and a unified media giant. Through Paramount Global’s strategic vision, CBS News remains a formidable voice in American journalism—its mission shaped less by ownership labels than by a commitment to accuracy, accountability, and impact across