Overview

• Skydance’s July 22 letters to the FCC confirm the immediate termination of all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at Paramount Global with no plans to reinstate such programs.
• The company pledged to create an ombudsman role for at least two years that will receive and evaluate bias or related complaints within CBS News and report directly to its president.
• These concessions aim to satisfy public-interest conditions required for FCC approval of Skydance’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global and the transfer of CBS broadcast licenses.
• In its filings, Skydance referenced the FCC’s 2011 Comcast-NBCUniversal review, which deemed an ombudsman an effective safeguard against editorial bias.
• The merger remains under extended FCC scrutiny as lawmakers and regulators assess whether the proposed safeguards adequately protect journalistic independence.