Skydance Media must gain approval from President Donald Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) before it can acquire Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News. In recent letters filed with the FCC, Skydance has committed to rooting out “bias” at CBS News and installing an ombudsman to evaluate complaints.
The CEO, David Ellison, has pledged to carry out a post-merger review of CBS, including eliminating existing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. However, this move may be seen as contradictory, as Skydance claims not to have any DEI programs in place.
Skydance’s eagerness to complete the deal is evident, given its recent settlement with President Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The $16 million payment has been criticized for being an attempt to silence criticism from the President.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a close ally of President Trump, has stated that the merger review process is separate from the “60 Minutes” case. However, reports suggest that Skydance made a side deal with Trump for additional airtime promotion, adding $15 million or more to the existing settlement.
Skydance’s commitment to installing an ombudsman and reviewing CBS’ operations may appeal to President Trump’s long-held concerns about biased news outlets. The company also promised to eliminate DEI policies once it takes over Paramount, aligning with a key conservative initiative from the Trump administration.
The deal must now secure approval from the FCC before it can proceed, highlighting the influence of President Trump and his allies in shaping media policy.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/23/media/skydance-fcc-cbs-news-bias-ombudsman-dei-paramount