John Malone Releases Memoir and Weighs In on Media Landscape and Formula One Future

NEW YORK, September 2, 2025 - Legendary media mogul John C. Malone today celebrated the release of his long-awaited memoir, Born to Be Wired, and used a series of high-profile interviews to share his candid views on the state of news media and the future of Formula One racing.

Malone’s autobiography, published by Simon & Schuster, chronicles his pivotal role in shaping cable television, the internet backbone, and iconic networks such as Discovery, QVC, TBS, and BET. The 432-page volume also details his strategic thinking behind landmark mergers, including Warner Bros. Discovery and Live Nation Entertainment.

On CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Malone discussed his memoir and reflected on decades of deal-making alongside industry titans such as Barry Diller, Rupert Murdoch, and Ted Turner. He praised the transformative power of relationships in business and provided behind-the-scenes anecdotes about wiring America for the digital age.

In a separate conversation with Yahoo Finance, Malone addressed his long-standing involvement with Liberty Media’s ownership of Formula One. While acknowledging the sport’s surging global popularity, he did not rule out selling Liberty’s stake should an attractive bid emerge. “If someone becomes overly enthusiastic and is prepared to offer more than what the board believes they can provide to shareholders, then we would consider selling it,” Malone said, highlighting Formula One’s strong economic framework and potential for free cash flow.

Malone also took aim at CNN during a New York Times interview excerpted by Media Confidential, criticizing the network for straying from its founder Ted Turner’s original vision. Calling CNN a “shadow” of its intended centrist mission, he lamented what he perceives as excessive opinion-driven reporting and urged a return to fact-focused journalism. A CNN spokesperson responded that CEO Mark Thompson remains committed to “fair-minded” news coverage prioritizing facts over political slant.

As Born to Be Wired reaches bookshelves today, Malone’s reflections provide a sweeping assessment of the media landscape he helped build-balancing insider stories with pointed critiques of its current trajectory.