US regulators approve $8.4bn Paramount-Skydance merger
FCC approval of deal comes after Paramount paid $16m to settle Trump lawsuit over 60 Minutes interview
Now we wait for the fallout.
Takeaway lesson: Have money set aside for a bribe.đź’°đź’°đź’°đź’°đź’°Now we wait for the fallout.
So huh?The merger came after Skydance and its investment partner, RedBird Capital, assured the FCC of their commitment to unbiased journalism that represents diverse viewpoints.
But that committment to diversity appears to privilege conservative viewpoints. According to Carr, Skydance “has made written commitments” promising its news network will address conservative grievances and stop all efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
Takeaway lesson: Have money set aside for a bribe.đź’°đź’°đź’°đź’°đź’°
This has legs now, it won’t end.The interesting part is the amount of blowback CBS/Paramount is receiving from content producers. They are presently their biggest critics. Will it subside now that the deal is done?
Paramount Global co-CEO Chris McCarthy will leave the company once its merger with Skydance is finished.
McCarthy’s decision comes on the heels of the Federal Communications Commission signing off on the deal late Thursday, removing the last major hurdle to the $8 billion transaction.
McCarthy became co-CEO of Paramount, alongside George Cheeks and Brian Robbins, in April 2024. The trio took on the role after the ouster of Bob Bakish as the company was in its first round of negotiations with Skydance. McCarthy is also president of Showtime/MTV Entertainment and oversees the company’s streaming platforms Paramount+ and Pluto TV.
2. Skydance completely slashes, if not cancels, nearly all news programming—including 60 Minutes and Sunday Morning—and makes CBS little more than a clearinghouse for archived content from Paramount+ when sportsball isn't happening. And they ditch the owned-stations anyway.
Doesn't sports (or, as Nathan calls it, "sportsball") account for most of the advertising revenue for CBS already?That would be a suicidal move. Would there be any value for advertisers if Skydance killed news/factual programming?
So huh?
Maybe they will dump him for Gomer Pyle reruns?Funny how this was approved at rapid speed less than one week after Colbert's cancellation was announced.
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!Maybe they will dump him for Gomer Pyle reruns?
It's been in process for more than a year with the application review in the final stages.Funny how this was approved at rapid speed less than one week after Colbert's cancellation was announced.
60 Minutes is a ratings and revenue driver. It's not going anywhere.including 60 Minutes
Skydance completely slashes, if not cancels, nearly all news programming—including 60 Minutes and Sunday Morning—and makes CBS little more than a clearinghouse for archived content from Paramount+ when sportsball isn't happening. And they ditch the owned-stations anyway.