Paramount Skydance, the new media conglomerate formed by the merger of Paramount and Skydance and the parent company of CBS News, has taken a bold step by appointing journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News.
Alongside this move, Paramount acquired Weiss’s digital media startup, The Free Press, for a reported $150 million, folding the contrarian outlet into its growing news portfolio.
Weiss, a former opinion editor at The New York Times and founder of The Free Press in 2021, brings a center-right voice known for challenging progressive orthodoxies.
Notably, she will report directly to Paramount CEO David Ellison, bypassing traditional CBS leadership, highlighting her significant influence over the network’s editorial direction.
From The New York Times Departure to Media Entrepreneur
Weiss’s career trajectory is unconventional. She began as an editor and columnist at The Wall Street Journal before joining The New York Times’ editorial team.
Her resignation from the Times in 2020 was highly publicized and stemmed from disputes over the paper’s ideological environment and its handling of controversial opinion pieces.
The publication quickly garnered a large following, emphasizing “hard truths” while maintaining an ardently Zionist perspective. Weiss’s rise exemplifies how independent media entrepreneurs can disrupt traditional journalism landscapes through digital platforms.
A Media Industry Reflecting Political Shifts
The appointment of Weiss as CBS News editor-in-chief marks a clear pivot for the storied news organization. Once considered a pillar of liberal media, CBS now signals a willingness to embrace voices aligned with conservative and centrist critiques of the media establishment.
This shift aligns with broader trends in American media as outlets adjust to political, regulatory, and audience dynamics under the second Trump administration.
Bari Weiss (Credit: NBC)
Paramount’s merger with Skydance and its recent settlement of a high-profile lawsuit with Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes interview demonstrate the industry’s sensitivity to regulatory pressures and political influence.
The appointment of Weiss coincides with these shifts, positioning CBS News as a potential model for reorienting mainstream journalism under changing ideological winds.
Internal Reactions and Challenges
Within CBS News, Weiss’s arrival has provoked a mix of anticipation and concern. The newsroom has experienced staff turnover and reports of unrest, highlighted by the recent departure of CBS News’s longtime standards chief.
Weiss’s identity as a provocateur and ex-opinion editor has unsettled some journalists accustomed to traditional newsroom hierarchies and practices.
Despite this, Weiss is pushing for editorial innovation, exploring live events, securing major interviews, and calling out leaks that she suggests undermine the newsroom’s cohesion.
Her emphasis on combating perceived bias and promoting balanced journalism seeks to restore trust among a politically diverse audience increasingly skeptical of media validity.
The Strategic Acquisition of The Free Press
Paramount’s purchase of The Free Press for approximately $150 million reflects its bet on new media models and personalities who can attract diverse, engaged audiences.
Weiss retains leadership of The Free Press, which will continue operating independently under the Paramount umbrella, while also steering CBS’s flagship news programs such as 60 Minutes and Sunday Morning.
This dual role amplifies her influence across traditional and new media, positioning her as a key player in shaping U.S. news consumption in the coming years.
Weiss’s Editorial Philosophy and Identity
Known for her critical stance on “wokeness” and progressive media culture, Weiss describes herself as a “radical centrist” and a “Zionist fanatic.” Her commentary has often pushed back against what she perceives as ideological conformity in newsrooms and tech platforms.
Weiss’s approach appeals to audiences seeking alternatives to mainstream narratives, framing her new role as an opportunity to champion intellectual independence.
Her rise is emblematic of a broader media realignment reflecting shifts in American politics and culture.
Whether Weiss’s vision will reconcile with CBS News’s legacy of objective journalism remains to be seen, but her appointment signals an unmistakable commitment by Paramount Skydance to recalibrate the network’s ideological positioning.
Broader Implications for American Media
Weiss’s transition from indie media founder to head of one of America’s oldest news outlets reflects a changing media environment where digital-native personalities increasingly influence established institutions.
Paramount Skydance’s strategy shows how major companies aim to diversify editorial voices while balancing governmental influence and market pressures.
This media evolution is unfolding amid lawsuits, regulatory scrutiny, and increasing political polarization. Weiss’s role serves as a case study in how media organizations strive to align commercial goals, audience engagement, and editorial independence in a deeply divided era.
What the Future Holds for CBS News
As Bari Weiss settles into leadership at CBS News, the network faces opportunities and challenges. Revitalizing trust amid skepticism requires bridging divides internally and externally, innovating content delivery, and maintaining journalistic standards.
Meanwhile, Weiss’s high-profile presence attracts attention from supporters and critics alike, shaping CBS News’s brand and influence. Industry watchers will closely monitor how this appointment affects CBS’s ratings, reputation, and role in shaping national discourse through upcoming elections and cultural shifts.
The global immersive entertainment market, incorporating virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), was valued at approximately USD 114.37 billion in 2024 and is forecast to skyrocket to USD 442.11 billion by 2030.
This impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.3% from 2025 to 2030 highlights how this sector is reshaping the global cultural and entertainment sphere.
In 2024, North America held a dominant position, accounting for over 42% of the market revenue. The United States specifically stands out as a key market, driven by established technology companies and a strong appetite for personalized, immersive experiences.
Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific region is emerging as the fastest-growing market, powered by rising consumer demand and burgeoning investments in AR, VR, and MR innovations.
Technology Trends: VR Dominance and MR’s Rapid Rise
Virtual reality currently leads the technology segment with over 46% market share. VR’s appeal lies in its ability to provide fully interactive, lifelike environments that transport users to new worlds, whether in gaming, concerts, or virtual tourism.
Recent advances in headset comfort, graphics rendering, and motion tracking have broadened VR’s accessibility and appeal.
Mixed reality (MR), blending digital and physical environments more seamlessly, is projected to experience the fastest growth, nearing a 27% CAGR from 2025 to 2030.
MR technologies enable users to engage with virtual objects anchored in their real-world surroundings, enhancing experiences across gaming, live events, art installations, and education. As software and hardware become more sophisticated, MR is expected to redefine daily life and entertainment consumption.
Immersive Entertainment Applications: Gaming, Music, and Sports
The gaming sector commands the largest application share in the immersive entertainment market, fueled by the explosion in VR and AR gaming.
Titles using location-based AR gameplay, such as Pokémon GO, alongside VR headsets providing fully immersive digital adventures, demonstrate the power of immersive technologies to revolutionize traditional gaming models.
Music and live concerts, while currently smaller, are poised for rapid expansion, with immersive formats growing at the fastest pace through 2030. VR concerts allow fans worldwide to attend live performances virtually, with interactive elements that mimic or enhance in-person experiences.
AR supplements live shows with virtual visuals and effects, creating multisensory engagements that deepen fan connection. Collaborations between artists and tech firms are driving innovation and expanding music’s cultural reach.
Sports, too, benefit immensely from immersive technologies. VR enables fans to watch games from unique angles or experience virtual locker rooms, while MR and AR enhance broadcast presentations with real-time overlays, player stats, and interactive content.
Immersive experiences also enrich esports, inviting deeper viewer participation and engagement. These developments hint at the future of dynamic fan experiences that transform passive spectatorship into active involvement.
Fitness and Theme Parks: New Frontiers for Immersive Tech
Fitness has embraced VR and AR to turn workouts into interactive, gamified experiences. Virtual trainers, real-time feedback, and multiplayer virtual classes foster motivation and social connection, broadening fitness culture beyond gyms.
These immersive fitness solutions promise to keep users engaged and transform how we approach exercise.
Theme parks are increasingly incorporating immersive storytelling, combining VR, AR, and physical sets to create fully realized narratives visitors can step into.
Entertainment Market (Credit: BBC)
Blockbuster franchises like Star Wars and Harry Potter have pioneered immersive attractions that marry interactive characters with multisensory environments, pushing amusement parks from rides to immersive universes. This convergence of physical and digital worlds offers guests an unmatched depth of engagement.
Regional Market Highlights
North America, led by tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, Meta, and others, maintains leadership in immersive entertainment through ongoing innovation partnerships and product releases.
For example, Samsung’s collaboration with Netflix to offer immersive streaming experiences reflects the region’s technological leadership.
Europe, while smaller than North America, is growing rapidly as countries invest in interactive entertainment technologies. The UK and Germany stand out for location-based experiences and high-quality VR content production. Sustainability concerns further drive innovation in eco-friendly immersive experiences.
The Asia Pacific region, with countries like China, Japan, and India leading technology adoption, is the fastest-growing immersive market fueled by rising consumer demand, vibrant gaming communities, and expanding digital infrastructure.
Indian consumers’ enthusiasm for affordable but advanced immersive content opens immense growth opportunities.
The Middle East & Africa region is also ramping up investments, with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious entertainment and tourism plans spotlighting immersive solutions as key drivers of cultural tourism and economic diversification.
Major Industry Players and Innovations
Leading industry players include Meta Platforms, Microsoft, HTC, Barco, Magic Leap, Samsung, Apple, Sony, Qualcomm, and Unity Technologies. These companies invest billions in R&D to expand hardware capabilities and create immersive software platforms.
Meta’s Oculus series, for example, aims to build the metaverse by offering seamless, untethered VR experiences despite past financial losses.
Emerging companies like Cosm leverage funding to develop shared reality venues, blending physical and digital culture spaces. Their Hollywood Park launch exemplifies how immersive entertainment crosses traditional boundaries.
Collaborations such as Telefonica’s partnership with Meta to broaden MR experiences and Signify’s work with Samsung to enhance immersive lighting demonstrate the growing ecosystem supporting immersive media.
Recent Milestones in Immersive Experiences
Cosm’s $250 million funding secured expansion for its immersive venues, enhancing technology and media divisions. iQIYI opened a VR immersive theater themed after a popular TV series in Macau, underscoring the rise of location-based entertainment in Asia.
Technicolor accelerated its experiential entertainment initiatives, expanding immersive applications beyond parks into areas such as museums, marketing, and sports.
Outlook: The Future of Entertainment is Immersive
The immersive entertainment market stands at the cusp of transformation. With a projected valuation surpassing $440 billion by 2030, the sector promises to reshape how audiences engage with gaming, music, sports, fitness, and theme parks globally.
As technology advances, expect increasingly personalized, interactive, and multisensory entertainment, blurring lines between real and virtual worlds.
For investors, creators, and consumers alike, immersive entertainment offers vast potential, from new storytelling forms to fresh economic models. The marriage of tech and art in this space will define entertainment’s next chapter, influencing culture and economy worldwide.
