Skydance Pledges CBS News Overhaul, FCC Chair Approves

Ombudsman, DEI Changes Eyed in Paramount Merger

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr expressed satisfaction with Skydance Media’s proposed changes for CBS News, contingent on its acquisition of Paramount Global. The commitments, detailed in a recent FCC filing, include appointing an ombudsman and overhauling diversity policies.

Commitments Spark Regulatory Debate

Skydance outlined its intent to install an ombudsman for a two-year term, reporting to the new Paramount president. This move aims to boost transparency and accountability within the news division. The company also pledged to ensure a range of programming reflects diverse political and ideological viewpoints, aligning with audience perspectives.

“I was very pleased to see Skydance put in a filing that says, ‘If this deal goes through, they are committing to serious changes at CBS. I think that would be a good thing. They’ve committed to addressing bias issues. They committed to embracing fact based journalism. They’ve also committed to either not extending or removing hideous forms of DEI discrimination. I think those are all significant that they’ve offered. And so we’ll take a look at that.”

—Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman

The filing further stated Skydance’s commitment to a comprehensive review of CBS operations to ensure public interest standards are met, promising fair, unbiased, and fact-based reporting. This voluntary pledge mirrors a commitment made by Comcast during its merger with NBCUniversal.

Criticism Mounts Over First Amendment Concerns

In stark contrast, the sole Democratic commissioner, Anna Gomez, sharply criticized Skydance’s filing. She argued that the company’s agreement to implement controls over newsroom decisions and editorial content represents a “cowardly capitulation” and a direct violation of the First Amendment.

“The company also said it will comply with its agency’s ideological demands to undermine efforts to combat discrimination and expand equal opportunity.”

—Anna Gomez, FCC Commissioner

Gomez voiced her concerns about the ombudsman role, stating it would “serve as a check on the news division.” She also addressed widespread public complaints about perceived bias and unfairness in network news reporting, noting the irony of discussing declining trust in journalism while past administrations have reportedly contributed to skepticism toward mainstream media.

The timeline for a decision on the merger remains uncertain, with no indication if the full commission will intervene. Media analysts note that the average American spends approximately 4.5 hours per day consuming media, highlighting the significant public interest in how news organizations operate (Statista 2024).