Paramount Global-Skydance Media Merger Gets FCC Approval

High of the Ticker: Late Thursday, the Federal Communications Fee authorised the long-planned merger between CBS Information’ guardian firm, Paramount International, and Skydance Media. The nod from the FCC paves the best way for the upcoming closure of the $8 billion deal. Up to now few days, it was revealed that Skydance Media, by way of its lead legal professional, made a number of concessions to the FCC to acquire the inexperienced gentle for the merger. This consists of committing to put in an ombudsman to evaluation “complaints of bias or different issues” at CBS Information. The corporate additionally confirmed that Paramount eradicated its range, fairness, and inclusion initiatives.These concessions observe the $16 million settlement reached by Paramount International with President Donald Trump over a lawsuit filed in 2024, which accused CBS Information of “deceitful” enhancing throughout a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President and then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.Famine concern: BBC Information—alongside different main information companies together with the Related Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse—issued a joint assertion addressing a possible famine scenario that might impression journalists overlaying the Israel-Hamas struggle in Gaza. Within the joint assertion, BBC Information mentioned the information organizations are “deeply involved” about journalists within the area who’re “going through the identical dire circumstances as these they’re overlaying.” The assertion additional added, “Journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in struggle zones. We’re deeply alarmed that the specter of hunger is now one in every of them. We as soon as once more urge the Israeli authorities to permit journalists out and in of Gaza. It’s important that enough meals provides attain the folks there.” A joint assertion on Gaza from AFP, AP, BBC Information and Reuters pic.twitter.com/E9b1gTYDpu — BBC Information Press Staff (@BBCNewsPR) July 24, 2025FCC objection: Conservative-leaning information community Newsmax filed an objection with the FCC Wednesday difficult any transfer that may weaken or remove the Horizontal Possession Cap. The submitting is in response to the FCC’s issuance of a public discover in June, in search of public touch upon whether or not to retain, revise, or get rid of the cap. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy mentioned within the submitting, “If networks like CBS, ABC, and NBC had been allowed to increase their attain unchecked, they’d have even much less incentive to provide programming that displays the values of native communities, significantly these in America’s heartland.”Second sports activities deal: Fox Nation struck its second reside sports activities deal, turning into the unique broadcast associate for the inaugural matches of latest wrestling league Actual American Freestyle. Fox Information’ streaming service will broadcast the primary matchup Saturday, Aug. 30, from Cleveland. RAF was based by Eric Bischoff, Chad Bronstein, and WWE Corridor of Famer Hulk Hogan, who handed away Thursday, July 24. BREAKING: @foxnation is the unique broadcast associate for Actual American Freestyle. Watch the historic launch of #RAF01 streaming reside August 30. pic.twitter.com/S6sDp0Akpg — Actual American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) July 21, 2025