The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has just approved the $8 billion merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global. This merger combines some of the biggest assets in the country — the CBS broadcast television network, Paramount Pictures, and the Nickelodeon channel. It’s hard to believe that this merger was announced more than a year ago. It signals a hopeful and long overdue shift in the media landscape towards increasing the diversity of viewpoints in our programming.
In our press release announcing the grant, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr underscored Skydance’s dedication to delivering diverse perspectives from across the political and ideological spectrum. This pledge‐in‐writing was a key factor in the commission’s approval process. It underscored the long-simmering issues of media bias and the reliability of national news reporting.
Carr pointed out the challenges faced by traditional media, stating, “Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly.” He sounded hopeful for what the merger could bring, especially at CBS. “It is time for a change. It’s precisely for all those reasons that I’m thrilled with Skydance’s pledge to produce some profound seismic shifts at the formerly great CBS broadcast legacy network.”
The merger aims to revitalize content across the platforms involved, promising to deliver programming that resonates with a broader audience. By integrating Skydance’s innovative approach with Paramount’s established assets, the new company plans to cater to diverse viewer preferences while addressing the decline in trust among American audiences towards conventional media outlets.