Who Owns the News?
Hollywood, North American Media & Israeli Connections
🎬 Hollywood Studios
All of the major Hollywood studios — Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Universal, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, and Amazon MGM Studios — are owned by U.S. or Japanese parent companies, not by Israeli citizens or entities.
While individual producers of Israeli origin (like Arnon Milchan or Avi Lerner) operate smaller, independent studios, no major studio is Israeli-owned.
🗞️ North American News Networks
| Network | Parent Company | Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| CNN | Warner Bros. Discovery | U.S.-owned |
| Fox News | Fox Corporation | Murdoch family, U.S./Australian |
| ABC News | The Walt Disney Company | U.S.-owned |
| CBS News | Paramount Global | U.S.-owned |
| NBC News / MSNBC | Comcast (NBCUniversal) | U.S.-owned |
| Bloomberg News | Bloomberg L.P. | U.S.-owned |
| Reuters | Thomson Reuters Corp. | Canada-based, no Israeli ownership |
| Associated Press | Cooperative of U.S. outlets | No foreign owners |
| CBC | Government of Canada | Public, no foreign ownership |
| CTV / Global / CityNews | Bell Media / Corus / Rogers | Canadian-owned |
➡️ None of these companies are owned or controlled by Israeli citizens or corporations.
Editorial alignment or sympathetic reporting toward Israel sometimes occurs — but that stems from policy and influence, not ownership.
🇺🇸🇨🇦 U.S. & Canadian Outlets With Documented Ties
While mainstream agencies are domestically owned, several smaller or advocacy-based outlets have ties to Israel or pro-Israel networks:
- Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) – U.S.-based; funded by pro-Israel donors.
- Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) – Founded in Washington D.C. by Israeli ex-intelligence officer Yigal Carmon.
- HonestReporting Canada / CAMERA – Pro-Israel media watchdog groups operating in North America.
- Postmedia Network (Canada) – Has syndicated content from JNS, though ownership remains Canadian/U.S.
- OpenDor Media – Israeli-founded nonprofit creating educational content about Israel.
These organisations are influential in shaping public perception but are not mainstream national news agencies.
💼 Larry Ellison’s Recent Purchases & Investments
- Backed the Skydance–Paramount merger (≈ US $8.4 billion), bringing Paramount Global under his son David Ellison’s Skydance Media.
- Exploring an additional bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (CNN, HBO assets).
- Increased stake in Oxford Nanopore Technologies (UK gene-sequencing firm) to > 9 %.
- Through Oracle Corp., signed a multi-billion-dollar cloud deal with OpenAI.
💰 Estimated Net Worth
| Individual | Estimated Net Worth (2025) | Key Ventures |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Drahi | ~ US $8.2 B | Altice / i24 News |
| Arnon Milchan | ~ US $6.5 B | Regency Enterprises |
| Avi Lerner | ~ US $300 M | Millennium Media |
| Larry Ellison | ~ US $140 B | Oracle / Skydance Media |
🧩 Key Takeaway
- No major U.S. or Canadian media network is owned by Israeli individuals or corporations.
- Influence can exist through content syndication, advocacy funding, and editorial partnerships — not direct control.
- Independent Israeli producers and investors are active in film and tech but not in mainstream North American news ownership.
A few Israeli-linked players do own or control notable media companies—just not the major Hollywood studios:
- Patrick Drahi (French-Israeli) owns the Israel-based international news channel i24NEWS and controls Altice; he holds Israeli citizenship. Wikipedia+1
- Arnon Milchan (Israeli) owns independent film studio New Regency (producer of 12 Years a Slave, The Revenant). Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
- Avi Lerner (Israeli-American) co-founded Millennium Media (formerly Millennium Films/Nu Image), a long-running independent action-film studio. Wikipedia+1
- Keshet Media Group (Israeli) owns Israel’s Channel 12 and operates Keshet International/Keshet Studios, which produces and sells shows globally (including in the U.S.), but it’s not a Hollywood “major.” Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
Here’s what I found about whether the people we discussed live in the U.S.:
- Arnon Milchan (Israeli-film-producer) owns a home in Malibu, California. Wikipedia+3Virtual Globetrotting+3eilatgordinlevitan.com+3 His residency status seems mixed — one source says he spends time in Israel and London rather than living full-time in the U.S. eilatgordinlevitan.com+1
- Avi Lerner (Israeli-American film producer) is described as Israeli-American and relocated to Los Angeles in the early 1990s. Wikipedia So yes, he is living (or has lived) in the U.S.
- Patrick Drahi (French-Israeli businessman) is not currently living in the U.S.; he was reported to live in Switzerland and recently changed his official residence to Israel. SWI swissinfo.ch+1
Here are estimated net-worth figures for the individuals
- Patrick Drahi: ~ US$8.2 billion as of August 2025, according to Forbes. Forbes+2Goodreturns+2
- Arnon Milchan: estimates range around US$3.3–6.5 billion (Forbes lists ~US$3.3 billion in Jan 2024; other sources list up to ~US$6.5 billion). Wikipedia+2Forbes+2
- Avi Lerner: ~ US$300 million according to several industry-sources. Celebrity Net Worth+1
Here are updated valuation and net-worth estimates for the individuals and companies.
| Person / Company | Estimated Net Worth / Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Drahi | ~$8.2 billion (Forbes, Sept 2025) Wikipedia | Brazilian-born French-Israeli telecom/media magnate. Forbes+2The Guardian+2 |
| Arnon Milchan | ~$6.5 billion (Forbes, July 2025) Forbes | Israeli film-producer who founded/regents Regency Enterprises. Wikipedia |
| Avi Lerner | ~$300 million estimate Celebrity Net Worth+1 | Israeli-American film producer, founder of Millennium Media. Wikipedia |
| Altice USA, Inc. (“ATUS”, one of Drahi’s companies) | Market cap ~$1.02 billion (Oct-2025) StockAnalysis+1 Enterprise Value ~$26 billion StockAnalysis+1 | Shows a large debt component: EV >> market cap. |
| Regency Enterprises (via Milchan) | Net worth of Milchan implies the company’s worth is within/below that umbrella (no recent standalone valuation found) | No publicly listed valuation found. |
Key observations:
- Net worth estimates vary significantly depending on source and timing.
- For companies like Altice USA, the gap between market cap (~$1B) and enterprise value (~$26B) indicates significant debt.
- Private companies (like Regency or Millennium) have less transparent valuations publicly available.
Examples of Media / News Agencies & Links to Israel
1. Jewish News Syndicate (JNS)
Based in the U.S. (San Diego) but focuses on Jewish/Israeli-related news. Wikipedia
- Described as more conservative / hawkish on Israel compared with its competitor Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA). Wikipedia
- Financial support: major funding came from pro-Israel donors such as the Sheldon Adelson Foundation. Wikipedia
- Because of these features it is often cited in discussions of media with ideological alignment toward Israel’s positions.
2. Arutz Sheva (Israel National News)
Israeli media network, identifying with religious Zionism. Wikipedia
- Publishes in Hebrew, English, Russian; includes online radio/podcasts. Wikipedia
- Its mission statement includes “to spread the word of Israel to Jews and Israel supporters in the English-speaking world” (per description). Wikipedia
- This shows a clear editorial/ideological tie to Israel’s national/religious discourse.
3. The Jerusalem Post
English-language Israeli daily newspaper, based in Jerusalem. Wikipedia
- Owned by Israeli publisher Mirkaei Tikshoret (controlled by Israeli investor Eli Azur) since 2004. Wikipedia
- The paper has historically taken positions aligned with Israeli state interests, especially in its earlier decades; e.g., under its predecessor it openly supported Jewish statehood. Wikipedia
- It gives an example of an Israeli-based media outlet with clear geographic and ownership ties to Israel.
4. Channel 14 (Israel)
Commercial Israeli news channel, described in recent reporting as “ultranationalist” and gaining increasing viewership. The Guardian
- Owned by Russian-born Israeli oligarch Yitzchak Mirilashvili. The Guardian
- Notable for regulatory benefits inside Israel which some argue favour its ideological stance. The Guardian
- Example of how ownership, state regulation, and editorial alignment combine in Israeli media.
Summary & Key Themes
- Media agencies can have direct ties via ownership/funding (e.g., JNS, Jerusalem Post) or indirect ties via editorial stance and regulation (e.g., Channel 14).
- Some outlets are explicitly Israeli-based and serve both domestic and international audiences (e.g., Arutz Sheva).
- Others are external (U.S., etc) but oriented toward Israel through financing, mission, or ideological alignment (e.g., JNS).
- Reporting indicates that Western media also come under influence from pro-Israel advocacy groups in terms of access, framing, and trips for journalists. Declassified UK+1
- Media regulation and interference are also part of the picture: for example, the closures or restrictions placed by the Israeli government on some foreign news outlets (see below).
Additional Note: Media Interference / State Measures
- The Israeli government ordered the local offices of Al Jazeera (Qatar-based) to close and confiscated equipment, citing national security and incitement against Israel. AP News
- This highlights how states (in this case, Israel) exert control or pressure over media, especially in conflict contexts.
Recent news on Israeli‑media ties & regulation
The ultranationalist TV channel fast becoming Israel’s most-watched news source
1. Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) — United States
What it is:
- A U.S.-based nonprofit think-tank / media translation organisation founded in 1998. Wikipedia
- Co-founded by Yigal Carmon (Israeli ex-intelligence officer) and Israeli-American political scientist Meyrav Wurmser. Wikipedia
- Its work involves translating Arabic, Persian, etc, media from the Middle East and disseminating analyses of them. Wikipedia
Ties to Israel / Israeli individuals:
- Israeli-born founder (Yigal Carmon) and connection to Israeli intelligence background.
- Because of the staffing/founding, it is often cited in discussions of pro-Israel media/advocacy. Wikipedia
Notes / caveats:
- It is not exactly a “news agency” in the wire service sense (it’s more research/monitoring/translation).
- It operates in the U.S., and so counts for your “America” category.
2. Postmedia Network Canada Corp. — Canada
What it is:
- A Canadian-based media conglomerate which owns many newspapers (including the National Post). Wikipedia+1
- Two-thirds (≈66 %) of its shares are held by an American hedge-fund (Chatham Asset Management) – so it is U.S.-owned in large measure. Wikipedia
Ties to Israel / Israeli associations (indirect):
- There are documented allegations that Postmedia published syndicated content from the U.S.-based Jewish news service Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) which is pro-Israel. According to one critique: “the National Post began running stories … either from the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) or with files from it … the JNS stories … rely exclusively on Israeli government sources and do not mention Palestinian civilian casualties.” The Maple
- While that is an editorial/partner‐content tie rather than ownership by Israeli entity, it does show a media outlet in Canada with content links to pro-Israel news service.
Notes / caveats:
- Postmedia is U.S.-/Canadian-owned rather than Israeli-owned; the “tie to Israel” here is through content/ideology rather than direct Israeli ownership.
- It remains primarily a Canadian operator.
Summary & Context
- I did not locate a major U.S. or Canadian wire news agency that is clearly owned by Israeli-based or Israeli-citizen persons/entities.
- But we do see:
- U.S. media/translation organisations with Israeli founders (e.g., MEMRI).
- Canadian media outlets incorporating content from pro-Israel services (e.g., Postmedia & JNS).
- Ownership and control are different from editorial stance or funding; many of the links are ideological, content-based or via partnerships rather than full ownership.
Here’s a table of 10 U.S. & Canadian media-/news-related organisations (broadly defined) that have some kind of documented tie to Israel or pro-Israel advocacy (ownership, funding, editorial influence, board composition, or content partnerships). The ties vary in strength and nature; some are direct ownership or funding, others are indirect (advocacy groups, content partnerships, regulation). Use with caution — “tie” doesn’t mean Israel has full control.
| # | Organisation | Country | Nature of tie to Israel / pro-Israel advocacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) | U.S. | U.S.-based news service focusing on Jewish/Israeli issues; funded by pro-Israel donors. |
| 2 | HonestReporting Canada (HRC) | Canada | Pro-Israel media-watchdog/advocacy organisation; wealthy funders and aims to “control the narrative” in Canadian media about Israel. canadiandimension.com |
| 3 | Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) | U.S. | American nonprofit pro-Israel media-monitoring organisation. Wikipedia |
| 4 | OpenDor Media | U.S. (but Israeli-founded) | Founded by Canadian-Israeli Raphael Shore; Israeli non-profit producing content about Israel/Zionism, based in U.S. context. Wikipedia |
| 5 | Media Accountability Project (MAP) | Canada | Initiative by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to monitor Canadian media’s coverage of Israel/Palestine—shows the contested space of media ties/influence. cjpmemap.ca |
| 6 | Postmedia Network Canada Corp. | Canada | Major Canadian media company; content partnerships imply pro-Israel content ties (via JNS content syndication). Editorial critiques cite ownership by Zionist founder. The Canada Files+1 |
| 7 | Combat Antisemitism Movement | U.S. | U.S.–based NGO with board including an Israeli ex-minister and former Israeli military officer, cooperates with Israeli government-linked organisations. Wikipedia |
| 8 | If Americans Knew | U.S. | U.S. nonprofit analysing American media coverage of Israel/Palestine; less a direct “news agency” but part of media ecosystem with focus on Israel. Wikipedia |
| 9 | Central Fund of Israel | U.S. | American non-profit that funds projects in Israel (including media/supporting organisations); shows U.S. financial linkages to Israeli interests. Wikipedia |
| 10 | J Street | U.S. | U.S. advocacy group (liberal Zionist) focused on Israel–U.S. relations and media/political narrative; though not a news agency, it influences media coverage. Wikipedia |
Some caveats & context
- Many of the entities are advocacy/monitoring groups rather than traditional news wire agencies. Information on full ownership of big news companies with Israeli ownership remains scarce.
- “Tie” means a relation (funding, board, content, ideology) not necessarily full ownership or control.
- Some critiques focus on editorial-bias or content partnerships rather than ownership; e.g., Canadian media being influenced by pro-Israel organisations. institute.aljazeera.net+1
- Public documentation on ownership/funding is often incomplete or obscured.
If you like, I can dig further and try to find ownership/board-membership records for mainstream U.S. or Canadian wire news agencies (like Reuters, AP, Canadian Press) to check for Israeli individual/entity ties in their ownership or board.
🇺🇸 UNITED STATES MAINSTREAM NEWS NETWORKS
| Network | Parent Company | Headquarters | Any Israeli Ownership or Control? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNN | Warner Bros. Discovery | New York, NY | ❌ No | Owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a U.S.-based media conglomerate listed on NASDAQ (ticker WBD). No Israeli investors or executives with controlling stakes. |
| Fox News | Fox Corporation | New York, NY | ❌ No | Controlled by the Murdoch family (Rupert Murdoch & sons). Murdochs are Australian-American; no Israeli ownership. Editorial stance is pro-Israel at times, but not due to ownership. |
| MSNBC / NBC News | NBCUniversal → Comcast Corp. | Philadelphia, PA | ❌ No | Comcast is an American telecom/media giant. No Israeli ownership or board control. |
| ABC News | The Walt Disney Company | Burbank, CA | ❌ No | Disney is a U.S.-based public corporation; no Israeli shareholders of significant size or control. |
| CBS News | Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS) | New York, NY | ❌ No | Paramount Global is U.S.-based (controlled by the Redstone family). No Israeli ownership. |
| Bloomberg News | Bloomberg L.P. | New York, NY | ❌ No | Privately owned by Michael Bloomberg (American). No Israeli financial or ownership link. |
| Associated Press (AP) | Non-profit cooperative | New York, NY | ❌ No | Owned collectively by U.S. newspapers and broadcasters; no foreign or Israeli stake. |
| Reuters (Thomson Reuters) | Thomson Reuters Corp. | Toronto, Canada / London | ❌ No direct Israeli ownership | Canadian-based, publicly traded (TSX & NYSE: TRI). No Israeli individuals on the board with ownership control. |
| Newsmax / The Epoch Times / OANN | Various private U.S. companies | U.S. | ❌ No | Owned by American investors. Some outlets have pro-Israel content, but not Israeli ownership. |
🇨🇦 CANADA MAINSTREAM NEWS NETWORKS
| Network | Parent Company | Headquarters | Any Israeli Ownership or Control? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBC / Radio-Canada | Government-funded Crown Corporation | Ottawa ON | ❌ No | 100 % publicly owned by the Government of Canada. No Israeli stake. |
| CTV News | Bell Media (division of BCE Inc.) | Toronto ON | ❌ No | BCE Inc. is publicly traded on the TSX/NYSE; no Israeli ownership. |
| Global News | Corus Entertainment | Toronto ON | ❌ No | Canadian family-controlled company (Shaw family); no Israeli link. |
| CityNews / OMNI / Breakfast Television | Rogers Communications | Toronto ON | ❌ No | Rogers is a Canadian-owned telecom/media conglomerate. |
| National Post / Financial Post (Postmedia) | Postmedia Network Canada Corp. | Toronto ON | ❌ No direct Israeli ownership | Owned mainly by U.S. hedge fund Chatham Asset Management. The group has published syndicated content from pro-Israel outlets (e.g., JNS), but ownership is North-American. |
✅ Summary
- No major U.S. or Canadian broadcast or print news company is owned or controlled by Israeli citizens, the Israeli government, or Israeli corporations.
- Pro-Israel editorial alignment sometimes appears across outlets — but that comes from policy, lobbying influence, and access culture, not formal ownership.
- Direct Israeli media ownership in North America is limited to small niche outlets (e.g., i24 News’ North American feed, Israeli-run community stations, or advocacy groups like JNS or MEMRI).
Here are some of the more notable recent acquisitions and investment moves by Larry Ellison:
- His family’s media vehicle Paramount Skydance (via his son David Ellison) completed the take-over of Paramount Global for about US$8.4 billion. Reuters+4Reuters+4Fortune+4
- That vehicle is now preparing a bid, backed by Ellison, for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) — which would bring major studio & network assets (like HBO, CNN) under Ellison’s control. Reuters+2Business Insider+2
- He increased his stake in the UK-based gene sequencing company Oxford Nanopore Technologies to over ~9 %. The Times
- On the tech/infrastructure side, through his company Oracle Corporation, Ellison signed a massive deal with OpenAI (US$30 billion +) to provide large scale computing / data-centre capacity. ft.com+1
Recent Ellison acquisition / investment news
Paramount Skydance prepares Ellison-backed bid for Warner Bros Discovery, WSJ reports
Tech tycoon Larry Ellison increases stake in Oxford Nanopore
✅
Canadian Media VS American Media
In Canada
Yes, taxpayers directly fund the national broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada, which is a Crown corporation.
- In the 2024–2025 federal budget, CBC received roughly $1.3 billion in public funding.
- This money covers news, radio, TV, and digital programming across both official languages, plus regional and northern service.
- CBC also earns some commercial revenue (ads, licensing, etc.), but about 70 % of its total budget comes from federal taxpayers.
Other Canadian media (like CTV, Global, Rogers, Postmedia) are private corporations — they don’t receive operating subsidies, but they do benefit indirectly through:
- Government advertising contracts (e.g., federal and provincial ads about health, taxes, etc.).
- Tax credits and grants meant to support journalism jobs and local news (e.g., the Local Journalism Initiative and Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit).
So, even private outlets get some taxpayer support, though it’s mostly indirect.
🇺🇸 In the United States
American taxpayers do not fund private media such as CNN, FOX, or CBS — they are entirely commercial.
However, the U.S. does fund:
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) and NPR (National Public Radio) — both receive modest federal support through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
- CPB’s annual federal budget is about $445 million — less than 0.01 % of total U.S. spending.
🧭 Summary
| Country | Publicly Funded Outlets | % of Funding from Taxpayers | Private Media Subsidies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | CBC/Radio-Canada | ~70 % | Some grants, tax credits, and government ad revenue |
| 🇺🇸 U.S.A. | PBS, NPR (via CPB) | ~15–20 % of total budgets | Minimal (some local grants) |
🏛️ CBC/Radio-Canada
Receives about $1.3 billion each year — roughly 70 % of its total budget — directly from the federal government.
📰 Private Media
Even private outlets like CTV, Global, Postmedia, and Rogers receive indirect taxpayer support through:
- Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit ($80–100 million / year)
- Local Journalism Initiative ($60 million / year)
- Government advertising on major media platforms
Who funds Canadian media?
CBC gets $1.3B a year from taxpayers — ~70% of its budget.
When the media is controlled by rich and powerful people you need to remember they have the ability to control what you may see and hear. The ability to do your own research has never been greater since the internet has provided so many resources. When it comes to making the right decisions and knowing right from wrong it does become important to research the truth.
Thank you for becoming more aware. Comments are always welcome.
Michael