The Federal Communications Commission has approved the $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance Media, a deal more than a year in the making. The merger brings together key media assets including the CBS broadcast network, Paramount Pictures, and Nickelodeon. The decision was not without controversy, as it follows a series of politically charged developments surrounding Paramount and CBS.
Brendan Carr, the FCC’s Republican chairman, welcomed the merger, citing the need for reform in national news media. He emphasized that Skydance has committed in writing to diversifying viewpoints across the political spectrum and to hiring a third-party monitor to assess bias-related complaints. Carr also noted that Skydance does not operate any DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs and has agreed not to implement any such initiatives at the new company.
As part of the deal, Shari Redstone will step down from Paramount’s board, with her family’s company, National Amusements, relinquishing its controlling stake to Skydance. Skydance is owned by David Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.
The FCC’s vote was split. Commissioner Anna Gomez, the lone Democrat, opposed the merger. She voiced concerns over Paramount’s recent $16 million settlement with Donald Trump, who sued CBS over the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris. Gomez argued that the settlement, combined with the FCC’s approval, suggests a pattern of political and ideological concessions under pressure.
Adding to the controversy was CBS’s decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” just days after the host criticized the Trump settlement during a monologue, calling it a “big fat bribe.” While CBS and Paramount maintained that the cancellation was based on financial pressures, the timing has fueled suspicion across political and entertainment circles.
The Writer’s Guild of America called on New York’s Attorney General to join California in investigating potential misconduct by Paramount. The guild expressed concern that political influence may have played a role in the show’s termination, describing such actions as a threat to press freedom in a democratic society.
Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff also raised alarms. In a public statement, Warren questioned whether Colbert’s cancellation was part of a broader, tacit agreement involving corporate interests and the Trump administration’s regulatory power.
The merger approval underscores the growing tension between media consolidation, political influence, and editorial independence.
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