Warner is pumping the breaks on hiring. Is it prepping a CNN sale next?

David Zaslav is positioning as a buyer, but maybe he'll sell instead.

Warner Bros. Discovery is quietly telling some managers to hit pause on hiring, according to executives at the New York-based conglomerate. Managers have been told there is a “start date pause,” with no new employees coming on board before April. 

Notably April 8 is the date that Warner can officially execute mergers and acquisitions activity as the tax provisions of the Reverse Morris Trust that created Warner Bros. Discovery expire. That’s just 13 weeks away. 

Sources tell me that top brass at the company are meeting today in Los Angeles, most likely to discuss 2024 strategy and there’s another round of catch-up meetings with senior divisional leaders on Monday.