The Federal Communications Commission has approved the $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, removing the final regulatory barrier. The 2-1 vote allows the transfer of licenses for 28 CBS-owned local TV stations to the Skydance-led ownership group that will take control of Paramount Global.
Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Biden appointee, cast the lone dissenting vote. She criticized the merger, citing Paramount’s recent lawsuit settlement with President Trump, which some critics claimed resembled a political bribe. Gomez stated, “After months of cowardly capitulation to this Administration, Paramount finally got what it wanted. Unfortunately, it is the American public who will ultimately pay the price for its actions.”
As part of the approval process, Skydance reached an agreement with the FCC to eliminate all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within Paramount. Additionally, Skydance pledged not to implement any DEI policies in the future. The company also agreed to appoint an ombudsman tasked with reviewing complaints of bias and other editorial concerns within CBS to promote viewpoint diversity.
In a formal letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Skydance General Counsel Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon confirmed the termination of Paramount’s DEI initiatives. She emphasized Skydance’s commitment to maintaining a newsroom that welcomes diverse ideological perspectives, and noted the company does not and will not adopt DEI policies.
During a meeting with Chairman Carr and other FCC officials, Skydance CEO David Ellison reaffirmed the company’s goal to uphold unbiased journalism at CBS. Ellison stated the network would embrace diverse viewpoints in its editorial practices under new leadership.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr praised the agreement. “Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly. It is time for a change,” he said. “That is why I welcome Skydance’s commitment to make significant changes at the once-storied CBS broadcast network.”
