The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a contentious $8 billion merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global, raising concerns about free speech and government intrusion into the media. The deal, which includes commitments from Skydance to address Trump administration concerns about CBS network bias, has been met with skepticism from Democrats on Capitol Hill.
The FCC’s approval was announced by Chairman Brendan Carr, who stated that Skydance had agreed to make changes at the CBS network to promote diversity of viewpoints. The merger has been surrounded by controversy, particularly over a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris last fall. Trump sued CBS and settled the case for $16 million earlier this month.
The FCC approved the deal 2-1, with Commissioner Olivia Trusty voting in favor and Commissioner Anna Gomez dissenting. Democrats have condemned the timing of the approval, calling it “corrupt” and stating that the American public will ultimately pay the price.
Skydance’s concessions include the creation of an ombudsman to field complaints about CBS News programming and a review of CBS programming to ensure diversity of viewpoints. The new company has also scrapped its diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/24/fcc-greenlights-skydance-paramount-cbs-00476030