The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Paramount permission to complete its $8.4 billion acquisition of Skydance Media which will transform the United States entertainment industry. The acquisition gives Paramount control over CBS alongside Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures. The greenlight for the merger came after Paramount settled its $16 million lawsuit with Donald Trump regarding the 60 Minutes interview but faced criticism for political interference.
Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr who was appointed by Trump stated that the merger approval process operated independently from the civil case. The merger approval process has faced criticism from Senator Elizabeth Warren who believes Paramount used money to buy Trump’s approval for the deal. The ownership of Skydance by David Ellison who is Larry Ellison’s son and Trump supporter has led to promises of CBS restructuring that includes both conservative content promotion and the elimination of diversity and inclusion programs.
The only Democratic FCC commissioner Anna Gomez strongly opposed the decision because she believes it threatens press freedom by allowing political entities to control editorial choices. The latest South Park episode used satire to mock Trump and the merger as well as Paramount’s leadership while depicting alleged behind-the-scenes deals.
The industry remains uncertain about whether Paramount’s acquisition by Skydance represents a business move or a political power play.
