Applications for Consent to the Transfer of Control of Paramount Global, FCC 25-43

Claims supported by this source

1. factdocumented

   In a July 22 filing to Trump-designated FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Skydance committed New Paramount programming to ideological viewpoint diversity, described CBS reporting as fair, unbiased, and fact-based, and promised an ombudsman for at least two years to report to the president of New Paramount and evaluate CBS bias complaints.

   Paragraph 59 and footnotes 231-233, pages 26-27

   Skydance committed CBS to viewpoint and ombudsman measures · Commitment recorded in the July 24 FCC order · reviewed 2026-09-03

2. factdocumented

   In a July 22 filing to Trump-designated FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Skydance said it had no DEI programs and would not establish them at New Paramount, confirmed elimination of Paramount initiatives, and described changes covering leadership, training, sponsorships, suppliers, hiring, career development, and messaging; the FCC accepted the commitments as firm and definite.

   Paragraph 58 and footnotes 227-230, pages 26-27

   Skydance filed employment-policy commitments during FCC review · Accepted as firm and definite in the July 24 FCC order · reviewed 2026-09-03

3. factdocumented

   Commissioner Anna Gomez dissented from FCC 25-43 and characterized the approval as following Paramount's settlement payout and other concessions, accusing the FCC and the Trump administration of pressure; those assertions were her dissenting assessment, not findings adopted by the Commission majority.

   Statement of Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, page 29

   FCC dissent attributed the approval sequence to administration pressure · Official dissent; not a majority finding · reviewed 2026-09-03

4. factdocumented

   On July 24, 2025, the FCC voted 2-1 and granted applications transferring control of Paramount's broadcast licenses from the parties controlling National Amusements to Skydance investors, subject to the commitments stated in FCC 25-43.

   Introduction, paragraph 60, and ordering clause 61

   FCC granted the Paramount broadcast-license control transfers · Transfer applications granted; transaction later closed · reviewed 2026-09-03

5. factdocumented

   FCC 25-43, issued under Trump-designated Chairman Brendan Carr, said the separate CBS news-distortion proceeding remained open and was not prejudged by the merger order; it also found no substantial and material question of fact on an allegation that Skydance had prematurely assumed control, because the objector supplied no specific factual evidence.

   Footnote 147 and paragraph 37, pages 17-18

   FCC order left the CBS complaint open and rejected an unsupported control claim · Merger order did not adjudicate the separate news-distortion complaint · reviewed 2026-09-03

6. factdocumented

   Skydance Media and Paramount Global completed their merger on August 7, 2025, after the FCC decision under Trump-designated Chairman Brendan Carr; the combined company's portfolio included CBS and CBS News, and David Ellison became chair and chief executive.

   Ordering clause 61 granting transfer applications

   Paramount-Skydance merger closed after FCC approval · Merger completed · reviewed 2026-09-03

7. factdocumented

   The August 7 closing transferred National Amusements and Paramount control from the Redstone family to the Skydance investor group after the Trump-era FCC approval; David Ellison became the combined company's chair and chief executive.

   Ordering clause 61 granting transfer applications

   Paramount-Skydance merger closed after FCC approval · Merger completed · reviewed 2026-09-03

8. factdocumented

   On September 8, 2025, Paramount announced Kenneth R. Weinstein as CBS News ombudsman to review editorial questions and concerns from employees and outside entities and report to Paramount president Jeff Shell, implementing the role promised in the FCC transfer record under Trump-designated Chairman Brendan Carr.

   Paragraph 59, ombudsman commitment

   Paramount appointed the promised CBS News ombudsman · Appointment announced by CBS News · reviewed 2026-09-03

9. factdocumented

   After the Paramount-Skydance combination approved under Trump-designated FCC Chairman Brendan Carr closed, Paramount acquired The Free Press and made co-founder Bari Weiss editor-in-chief of CBS News, where Paramount said she would shape editorial priorities and report directly to chief executive David Ellison; The Free Press retained its own brand and operations.

   Ordering clause 61 granting the transfer applications

   Paramount acquired The Free Press and installed its founder at CBS News · Acquisition completed; editorial appointment in effect · reviewed 2026-09-03