Silberwasser steps down as merger closes
TNT Sports chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser is departing as Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT's parent company, approaches completion. On Monday he told employees he would leave once the transaction closes. The $111 billion deal, which will form an entertainment, sports and news powerhouse operating under the Skydance name, is expected to be finalized on Tuesday, Oct. 6.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S8]
According to a staff memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Silberwasser characterized the time since he arrived at TNT Sports in summer 2022 as a period of remarkable upheaval for the company, its sports arm and the media business at large. He said the division had adopted a fresh approach to expand and reinvent itself while managing major disruption and considerable obstacles, and he maintained that TNT Sports is now in better and stronger shape than at any prior point. Merging with CBS Sports, he added, would make the new sports unit one of the biggest and most compelling collections of premium sports rights and distribution platforms.[S1]
Berson to lead combined sports operation
David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, will head the merged sports entity, which will encompass a broad range of rights agreements. TNT Sports contributes Major League Baseball, the NHL, U.S. Soccer, the Roland Garros tennis major and the women's basketball organization Unrivaled to the CBS Sports lineup that already includes the NFL, college football, the PGA Tour and the WNBA. The combined operation will also consolidate all men's March Madness rights and add further college football and basketball packages. Additionally, TNT Sports holds an agreement to run NBA digital properties through the 2029-30 season under WBD's legal settlement with the league.[S1][S5][S6][S7][S8]
In the memo, Silberwasser expressed confidence that the merged sports organization is exceptionally well placed for what lies ahead, pointing to a top-tier portfolio, strong brands and a highly capable team. He highlighted the established record of collaborating with CBS Sports on the NCAA Tournament, describing it as among the most successful partnerships ever seen in sports media, and said he looks forward to watching the two sports teams shape that future jointly. He also voiced deep admiration for the leadership at both organizations, affirmed his complete backing of the decision and committed to helping with the transition.[S1]
A return to Discovery and the road ahead
Silberwasser took charge of TNT Sports, known at the time as Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, in 2022, overseeing the company's Eurosport division as part of the role. The position brought him back to Discovery, where he had previously served as executive vice president and chief content officer for Discovery International before moving on to roles at Telemundo and Univision.[S1]
An official confirmation of Berson's appointment to lead sports at Skydance is anticipated in the coming days. David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Skydance, named the top executives for the merged company on Monday, with additional information expected during a company event on Tuesday. CNBC was the first outlet to report Silberwasser's departure.[S1]
