FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that the agency’s review of the proposed Skydance-Paramount Global merger is ongoing, as the companies aim to complete the deal by summer. However, Carr emphasized that progress has been slow and that deep dive briefings with the teams working on the transaction have yet to be completed.
The 180-day “shot clock” for reviewing mergers began on day 104, leaving 76 days remaining for the FCC’s review. The agency’s scrutiny comes as President Donald Trump is suing CBS over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris and has revived a separate complaint filed by the conservative group Center for American Rights against CBS.
Carr expressed his intent to “re-empower local broadcasters” while defending the decision to open up a public comments period for the 60 Minutes complaint. This move has drawn criticism from media groups and Democratic commissioners, who claim it is an effort to “weaponize” the FCC’s authority against news content they don’t like.
Carr pointed out that the FCC had previously taken action in 2023 by designating a proceeding as “permit-but-disclose,” allowing for broader public input. He argued that this move demonstrates his commitment to transparency and fair media practices, despite criticism from some quarters.
As the review of the Skydance-Paramount merger continues, Carr’s position on the matter remains unchanged. The FCC has yet to make a decision on the proposed deal, which would significantly increase CBS’s ownership stake in the merged entity.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/02/fcc-paramount-skydance-trump-1236303962