As of July 24, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted approval for an $8–8.4 billion merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global—owner of CBS and Paramount Pictures. This marks the final U.S. regulatory hurdle cleared for the deal after 250 days of review and earlier approvals from the SEC and European Commission Financial Times.
Approval came shortly after Paramount settled a defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump for $16 million, related to a contentious 60 Minutes interview of Kamala Harris that was widely perceived as favoring her. Biden critics and Democratic officials questioned whether the timing of the settlement was leveraged to influence FCC approval Wikipedia.
The FCC’s approval was conditional: Skydance agreed to implement new policies at CBS and other Paramount media properties to promote “a diversity of political viewpoints” while phasing out internal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The merger also mandates a two-year appointment of an ombudsman to oversee bias complaints in programming—an unprecedented regulatory condition tied directly to content oversight AP News.
The vote passed 2–1, with Democratic commissioner Anna Gomez dissenting, criticizing the merger as overly influenced by political pressure, and warning that editorial independence was at risk Ars Technica.
Main Points
- Deal approved: FCC approved Skydance’s merger with Paramount Global, valued at ~$8–8.4B FAIR.
- Political and legal backdrop: Approval followed a $16M settlement with Trump—prompting scrutiny over press freedom and merger impartiality Observer.
- Content mandates: Skydance pledges to diversify viewpoints, remove DEI policies at CBS, and appoint a bias ombudsman for two years The Washington Post.
- Dissenting opinion: Commissioner Gomez voiced concern that the FCC compromised public trust by imposing ideological oversight and ceding journalistic autonomy El País.
Future Implications
- Media governance with federal oversight
The merger sets a new precedent where content guidelines—typically set internally—are linked to regulatory approvals, raising questions about long-term editorial independence. - Shift in CBS’s editorial direction
With the removal of DEI policies and the introduction of a bias ombudsman, observers expect ideological realignment in programming and news coverage at CBS. - Political influence in media consolidation
The merger’s approval process, including Trump’s settlement and Colbert’s show cancellation, suggests political pressure may increasingly influence media regulatory outcomes. - Industry rival responses
As Redstone family control ends and David Ellison assumes leadership, other media companies may reconsider their strategies amid shifting power dynamics and pressure to align editorially. - Regulatory and legislative fallout
Democrats and press freedom advocates may push for oversight reforms to limit ideological conditions on media mergers, and legal scrutiny may follow.
Source
- BBC / The Guardian: “US regulators approve $8.4bn Paramount–Skydance merger after FCC conditions” Wikipedia
- Reuters / AP / Politico / Financial Times: Coverage of regulatory approval, conditions, and dissenting perspectives Financial Times
As of July 24, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted approval for an $8–8.4 billion merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global—owner of CBS and Paramount Pictures. This marks the final U.S. regulatory hurdle cleared for the deal after 250 days of review and earlier approvals from the SEC and European Commission Financial Times.