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FCC Approves $8B Skydance-Paramount Merger After Settlement

Published JUL 25 2025·Updated JUL 27 2025

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Above: The Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California. Image credit: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Republican narrative

This merger is a necessary change for a struggling media landscape where Americans have lost trust in biased legacy news outlets. Skydance's commitments to eliminate discriminatory DEI programs and ensure fair, fact-based reporting will help restore credibility to CBS News. The $1.5 billion capital injection will strengthen operations and enhance local news coverage that serves the public interest.

Trump FCC Daily Caller

Democratic narrative

The FCC approval highlights a dangerous erosion of press freedom through unprecedented government interference in newsroom decisions. Paramount's $16 million settlement with Trump appears to be a payoff to secure regulatory approval, while the cancellation of Colbert's show demonstrates corporate capitulation to political pressure that undermines editorial independence.

Democracy Now Time