Media mogul Shari Redstone is selling Paramount Global for $8 billion to Skydance Media, citing the need for balance in coverage of Israel. Her departure comes amid allegations of anti-Israel bias at CBS News.
Redstone’s plans to exit were complicated by her husband and son being rabbis. She believed President Trump’s lawsuit against CBS News could help address the network’s alleged bias. The suit was settled for $16 million, sparking outrage.
The network had aired segments with State Department officials who quit over American support for Israel’s Gaza war, which critics called one-sided and lacked factual accuracy. Redstone expressed frustration with CBS News coverage she viewed as hostile to Israel.
In June, veteran “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley warned that honest journalism at CBS might be ending if the network concluded a settlement with Trump. The anti-Israel bias allegations had been mounting for months.
The sale is valued at just $8 billion, a third of its worth when Redstone took control in 2019. Redstone’s reputation has taken hits due to her handling of the lawsuit and alleged side deals with Trump. She expressed frustration with CBS News’ treatment of her son, who was rebuked for pressing anti-Israel criticisms in his book.
Redstone told the New York Times she was driven by a desire to support Israel and address issues around antisemitism and racism. The $8 billion sale brings an end to four decades of Redstone’s family’s control over Paramount Global.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/08/19/media/shari-redstone-hoped-trumps-60-minutes-suit-would-root-out-anti-israel-bias-at-cbs-news