After more than a year since Skydance Media and its partners announced a merger with Shari Redstone and Paramount Global, the FCC has yet to approve the transfer of CBS licenses to the new ownership. This delay has prompted Skydance chief David Ellison to meet with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to lobby for the deal’s approval. Ellison made a significant promise during the meeting, ensuring that CBS’s editorial decision-making would reflect the diverse ideological perspectives of American viewers.
The meeting with Carr comes in the wake of a news distortion complaint against CBS regarding the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. Former President Trump had sued Paramount and CBS over the segment, which led to a settlement where Paramount agreed to pay Trump $16 million. Carr, appointed by Trump, has shown support for the president’s views on media bias issues, making the application of the FCC’s “news distortion” policy in this case highly unusual.
During the meeting, Ellison and his lawyer emphasized the public interest benefits of the Skydance-Paramount transaction and urged the Media Bureau to promptly grant approval for the transfer of CBS licenses to “New Paramount.” They discussed Skydance’s commitment to unbiased journalism and diverse viewpoints, ensuring that CBS’s editorial decisions would encompass a wide range of ideological perspectives.
Carr, known for championing the Trump administration’s goals, has been critical of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, calling them forms of discrimination. Ellison and his lawyer highlighted Skydance’s commitment to promoting non-discrimination and equal employment opportunities at New Paramount, ensuring compliance with the law.
The Skydance-Paramount merger is expected to bring significant public interest benefits, with fresh leadership from the Ellison family and RedBird driving long-term growth while preserving the legacy of CBS and its local television stations. If the deal closes, Redstone will exit the merged company’s board, and Ellison will assume the role of CEO and chairman of Paramount Skydance Corp.
Concerns about potential Chinese influence on the merged company have been raised, citing the minority interest in Skydance held by Tencent Holdings. However, Skydance has refuted these claims, stating that Tencent will only hold a non-voting, passive interest in New Paramount of less than 5%, with no governance or informational rights to influence operations.
In conclusion, the meeting with the FCC aimed to address concerns and ensure that the Skydance-Paramount merger would not be subject to foreign influence. The planned governance structure will uphold American storytelling values, with the Ellison family leading New Paramount in compliance with FCC rules and regulations.
