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FCC Chair Brendan Carr ‘Pleased’ With Skydance/Paramount Merger Concessions
July 24, 2025
FCC chair Brendan Carr July 24 announced he is pleased with proposed changes Skydance Media intends to implement at Paramount Global and CBS News following consummation of the $8 billion merger between the two companies.
The media merger impacting Paramount Pictures, Paramount+ streaming, CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and BET, is dependent upon the Trump-controlled FCC’s approval.
“I was pleased with some of the filings that came in from Skydance just this week,” Carr told a press conference following the FCC’s regular meeting.
Santa Monica-based Skydance has said it would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at Paramount, and install an ombudsman for two years to monitor perceived political bias at CBS News.
“I write to confirm the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that were in place at Paramount and to confirm our commitments moving forward,” Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon, general counsel at Skydance, wrote in a letter to Carr.
“Skydance, for its part, does not have DEI programs in place today, and will not establish such initiatives,” McKinnon wrote. “The company is committed to ensuring that its storytelling reflects the many audiences and communities it serves in a manner that complies with non-discrimination requirements and other applicable laws.”
The issue of political bias at CBS revolves in part on “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris, who was the Democrat presidential nominee ahead of the 2024 election. President Trump claimed emotional distress and selective editing by CBS to influence the election, which Trump won.
Paramount/CBS denied the accusations, but chose to settle Trump’s lawsuit for $16 million.
“They are committing to serious changes at CBS,” added Carr. “They’ve committed to addressing bias issues. They’ve committed to embracing fact-based journalism.”
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the lone Democrat on the panel, in a social media post, decried the placement of an ombudsman, saying such an official should not be in place to interfere with freedom of the press.
“Paramount will capitulate to grant this FCC never-before-seen controls over newsroom decisions and editorial content,” Gomez posted. “They are also happy to undermine efforts to combat discrimination and expand equal opportunity. How easy it is to sell out principle for profit.”
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Corruption right down the line and total elimination of this corporations future ever having FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. I won’t be watching any of their future programming that will be forever, including biased based subject matter with whatever political slant is desired.