JEFF BEZOS CONSIDERING ACQUISITION OF CNBC AS MEDIA PORTFOLIO EXPANDS
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, is reportedly in early talks to acquire CNBC, the business-focused news network owned by NBCUniversal. If the acquisition materializes, it would mark a major expansion of Bezos’s growing influence in the media landscape and potentially reshape the future of business journalism.
According to sources close to the discussions, Bezos has expressed interest in purchasing CNBC as part of a broader strategy to diversify and strengthen his media holdings. The talks are said to be preliminary, with no formal offer submitted yet. However, financial and media analysts believe the possibility of such a deal underscores Bezos’s long-term vision of building a comprehensive, high-impact media empire that combines print, digital, and broadcast platforms.
CNBC, a cable network known for its in-depth coverage of financial markets, economic policy, and corporate news, has been a staple of American business television for decades. Owned by Comcast’s NBCUniversal, CNBC has traditionally commanded a strong audience among investors, business leaders, and policymakers. While still influential, the network has seen a gradual decline in ratings in recent years due to shifting viewer habits and the rise of digital-first financial news outlets.
For Bezos, acquiring CNBC would be a strategic move. It would give him a prominent television platform to complement his ownership of The Washington Post, which he purchased in 2013. Under his stewardship, The Post has significantly expanded its digital presence and newsroom capabilities, though it has also faced financial challenges recently, including layoffs and budget cuts.
Media industry insiders suggest that Bezos sees an opportunity to modernize CNBC, infusing it with the technological innovation and audience analytics that drove Amazon’s global dominance. “Bezos is not just buying media brands—he’s trying to shape the infrastructure of how news is delivered, consumed, and monetized,” one senior analyst noted.
Critics, however, warn of potential conflicts of interest. Owning a major business news network could raise ethical questions given Bezos’s vast economic footprint and ties to Wall Street, tech companies, and global commerce. Some fear editorial independence might be compromised, especially when covering Amazon or other companies within Bezos’s orbit.
NBCUniversal, for its part, has not commented publicly on the reports. Industry experts say Comcast may be open to selling CNBC if it can command a high enough price, especially as it pivots toward streaming and repositions its media assets in a rapidly changing landscape.
If the deal progresses, it could trigger a significant realignment in business journalism, potentially pitting Bezos’s CNBC against Bloomberg, Fox Business, and other financial news competitors in a high-stakes race for dominance.
As the media world watches closely, Jeff Bezos’s potential acquisition of CNBC could be the next major step in his quest to transform how news is produced and delivered in the 21st century. Whether this expansion will serve public interest or deepen concerns over billionaire influence in journalism remains a question yet to be answered.