Paramount CEO David Ellison and top executive Gerry Cardinale have addressed concerns over the independence of CBS News under the new company, saying they will not meddle with the news division’s coverage.
In a press conference on Thursday, Ellison stated that he does not want to “politicize” the company, adding that CBS News aims to be in the “trust business,” “truth business,” and “facts business.” Cardinale echoed this sentiment, saying there is no way the new company will try to influence the news.
Gerry Cardinale emphasized that Redbird’s acquisition of Telegraph Media Group showed that trying to influence a news organization would be bad business. He compared it to buying a company with the intention of controlling its editorial direction, stating “that’s just bad business.”
The FCC has also expressed concerns over the merger, agreeing to install an ombudsman at CBS News to address complaints about alleged bias and other issues in coverage. However, Jeff Shell, Paramount’s president, described the ombudsman as a “transparency vehicle” rather than an oversight body.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has warned that if the company fails to meet its commitments, it could face consequences. He noted that the FCC is still reviewing a complaint against CBS News’ 60 Minutes over the editing of an interview with Kamala Harris.
Despite these concerns, Paramount executives maintain their commitment to maintaining the independence and objectivity of CBS News. The company’s stance on this issue will be closely watched by regulators and media outlets alike.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/08/skydance-paramount-merger-cbs-news-1236481168