Pete Cashmore is preparing to sell Mashable, Inc. to Cable News Network, Inc. (CNN) for up to $200 million, according to the reports, with an official announcement as March 13, 2012. Cashmore and CNN were in "advanced talks" for a possible acquisition, New York Times reported. The other reports suggested that the deal was already done.

Cable News Network, Inc. (CNN) and Mashable Inc are in advanced discussions which may lead to an acquisition of Mashable, three people with knowledge of the talks said. A blogger for Reuters, Felix Salmon, reported that a deal could be announced on March 13, 2012. On March 12, 2012, officials at CNN denied that an announcement would be made on March 13, 2012.