The United States Federal Communications Commission has approved an $8 billion merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global, paving the way in the American media landscape. The regulatory green light came on Thursday following a 2–1 vote by commissioners, marking the final hurdle in a deal first announced in 2024. The FCC also approved the transfer of 28 CBS-owned broadcast licenses to Skydance, giving the new ownership control over a significant portion of national television coverage.
Skydance Media, led by David Ellison son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison will now take over one of the most historic names in Hollywood. Paramount, which began as Paramount Pictures in 1914, owns CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Paramount+ and other major entertainment brands.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who supported the merger, praised Skydance’s commitments to “unbiased journalism,” including the creation of an ombudsman role to review audience complaints about political bias in news coverage. Carr said, “Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly. It is time for a change.”
Skydance also pledged to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within CBS an area that has drawn criticism from conservative figures including former President Donald Trump. That move, paired with recent network decisions, has raised questions about the influence of political pressure on corporate media.
The merger follows Paramount Global’s $16 million settlement with Trump over a legal dispute tied to a 2024 60 Minutes segment featuring then-vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Trump alleged the interview was selectively edited to favor Democrats during the election campaign.
Sources familiar with the agreement told The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times that the payout reportedly directed toward Trump’s presidential library was brokered through mediation. The resolution came while the FCC was still reviewing the merger, a process the former president could have influenced due to its jurisdiction over broadcast licenses.
Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez cast the sole dissenting vote. In a written statement, she criticized the deal, saying, “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.”
Paramount has not publicly disclosed when the merger will be finalized. Skydance has not issued a formal statement since the FCC’s decision.
The deal’s timing coincides with CBS’s announcement that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its run. The network said the cancellation was due to financial constraints, not content, though Colbert has long been an outspoken critic of Trump. The announcement came just days before the FCC vote.
The merger now positions Skydance to play a leading role in reshaping U.S. media, with potential influence over programming, editorial direction, and political coverage as the 2026 elections approach. Paramount’s legacy, built on blockbuster films and television dominance, now enters a new chapter under the control of a rising player in the entertainment industry.
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