FCC Approves $8.4B Skydance-Paramount Merger

The FCC has approved Skydance Media's $8.4 billion acquisition of Paramount Global, encompassing CBS, Paramount Pictures, and Nickelodeon, after a contentious and politically charged review. The approval comes in the wake of Paramount's $16 million settlement with President Trump over a 60 Minutes interview, which critics claim was necessary for regulatory greenlight. The FCC's decision was split along party lines, with Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez criticizing the move as caving to political pressure and imposing unprecedented editorial controls. Skydance and its partners agreed to eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across Paramount and to appoint an ombudsman to address concerns over editorial bias. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr praised the commitments as supporting fair and diverse journalism, but critics argue the conditions could undermine press freedom. The approval puts the Ellison family in control of the iconic entertainment conglomerate, marking a major transformation in the U.S. media industry.