The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to demand concessions from the new Paramount, a key player in the merger between Skydance and Paramount. The deal must be approved by the FCC, which has been reviewing it for 238 days.
Representatives of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and its Hollywood Local 399 met with FCC staff on Monday to discuss the merger. They emphasized the importance of protecting workers’ interests and asked for stronger concessions from the company.
The meeting also highlighted concerns about ending Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs at companies seeking FCC approval. T-Mobile and Verizon have already agreed to end their DEI programs.
Additionally, the Teamsters are pushing for measures to ensure fair treatment of workers at local stations, including formalizing pro-worker promises.
Another key demand is requiring new Paramount to set aside a fixed percentage of programming services on streaming platforms for independently owned content providers. This could benefit small, independent streaming and content companies seeking to cut deals with the platform.
The FCC’s actions will significantly impact the merger’s outcome. With concessions from Skydance, the deal may move forward, but it’s uncertain what specific demands the agency will make.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/fcc-paramount-skydance-deal-conditions-1236312017