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Shell’s Bells

The questions and enigmas following Skydance’s finally approved acquisition of Paramount Global don’t seem to extend to CBS Sports, a no-drama zone amid a network in existential crisis. That’s largely because of David Berson’s even-keeled leadership, and Jeff Shell and David Ellison believe they can build around his CBS Sports

Jeff Shell
When Ellison and incoming consigliere Jeff Shell began their due diligence on CBS during the merger process, they found little in the sports division that needed fixing. Photo: Rob Latour/Variety/Penske Media/Getty Images
John Ourand
July 28, 2025

About a month ago, a lineup of sports business royalty descended upon The Peninsula’s rooftop bar in New York to toast Brian Rolapp, the departing NFL chief business officer who was headed to become the C.E.O. of the PGA Tour. There were plenty of top broadcast executives, like Fox’s Eric Shanks, NBC’s Rick Cordella, and Versant’s Mark Lazarus. CBS Sports president David Berson, who inherited his throne from Sean McManus a little more than a year ago, was at the center of it all, holding court with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, among others.