• The FCC has approved the $8.4 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media.
• The approval followed a $16 million settlement with Trump, which critics argue influenced the merger's approval.
• Skydance will maintain editorial oversight with a commitment to unbiased journalism, abolishing DEI initiatives.
• FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that "Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media," advocating for change.
• The merger is expected to finalize by August 7, 2025, marking a significant shift in media ownership.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted approval for the merger of Paramount Global and Skydance Media, valued at $8.4 billion. This decision represents a major shift in the entertainment sector, particularly for properties such as CBS, Paramount Pictures, and Nickelodeon, that will now come under Skydance's control. The approval was finalized after Paramount settled a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump over a contentious interview aired on CBS’s 60 Minutes, agreeing to pay $16 million to avoid delaying the merger process, according to CBS News and Reuters.

The FCC's decision to approve the merger came after demands for assurances from Skydance and its investment partner, RedBird Capital, including a promise to appoint an ombudsman to monitor complaints regarding editorial bias. Furthermore, they pledged to ensure that the company's programming reflects diverse viewpoints. The merger approval also entails the discontinuation of Paramount’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, a policy shift aligned with the Trump administration's stance that such programs are discriminatory, Reuters, Newsweek, and BBC.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr commented that this merger is a necessary change in the media landscape, noting that “Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media.” Carr expressed support for Skydance’s measures aimed at restructuring CBS's news coverage and eliminating bias in reporting. His remarks were coupled with controversy, as dissenting FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez described the approval process as a capitulation to the Trump administration, pointing to perceived dangers to press freedom, Reuters, Newsweek, and India Times.

The merger, which signifies the end of the Redstone family's control over Paramount, is anticipated to close by early August 2025. The deal has sparked significant debate regarding its implications for editorial integrity in media, especially following CBS's settlement with Trump, which critics often interpret as a form of political manipulation aimed at shaping media narratives favorably for the right wing, India Times, Al Jazeera, and Newsweek.