Paramount Bidder Skydance Plays Patriotism Card In Push For Deal Ok

The caput of intermezo group Skydance — poised to return complete media conglomerate Paramount Global — told national officials he is pursuing a attraction connected “American storytelling” while touting a new, “unbiased” editorial guidance for CBS News.

David Ellison, Skydance’s CEO, met pinch Federal Communications Chairman Brendan Carr to activity support for his firm’s long-in-the-making merger pinch Paramount, according to a missive from a Skydance lawyer included successful a federal filing. The transaction has roiled Paramount subsidiary CBS News and its longtime crown jewel, “60 Minutes,” amid fights complete its editorial independence. Ellison is nan boy of tech billionaire Larry Ellison, a awesome protagonist of President Donald Trump.

David Ellison and Skydance’s wide counsel said they expressed their committedness to embracing “diverse viewpoints” that will bespeak “the varied ideological perspectives of American viewers,” according to nan filing. They besides also addressed concerns astir imaginable Chinese influence, saying that China-based tech elephantine Tencent, which holds a liking successful Skydance, will ain only a non-voting, passive liking successful immoderate caller type of Paramount of little than 5%.

Paramount, which besides owns Comedy Central and its namesake movie studio, among different awesome media entities, declined to comment.

Since Skydance announced its volition to merge pinch Paramount successful an $8 cardinal transaction a twelvemonth ago, nan woody has faced aggregate delays — first nether nan outgoing Biden administration, past nether Trump. The president accused CBS News’ marquee program, “60 Minutes,” of distorting an question and reply pinch Democratic force Kamala Harris during nan 2024 predetermination and subsequently revenge a lawsuit. While galore ineligible experts viewed nan suit arsenic frivolous, media reports said Paramount leader Shari Redstone favored exploring a settlement pinch Trump arsenic a measurement to flooded further regulatory hurdles. The settlement, for $16 million, was announced earlier this month.

The settlement, and nan negotiations starring up to it, rankled respective high-profile members of CBS. “60 Minutes” analogous Scott Pelley said successful June that specified an statement would beryllium “very damaging” to CBS and Paramount. In April, longtime “60 Minutes” editor Bill Owens stepped down, citing nan program’s nonaccomplishment of editorial independence. CBS News leader Wendy McMahon discontinue a period later.

On Monday’s section of “The Late Show,” big Stephen Colbert, a predominant Trump critic, blasted nan statement arsenic a “big fat bribe.“

On Thursday, CBS said it would cancel nan 32-year-old precocious nighttime franchise, effective successful May, for financial reasons. Trump shouted nan announcement Friday connected Truth Social, his societal media site, saying that he “absolutely loves” nan decision.