Shari Redstone, the controlling shareholder of Paramount Global, which owned CBS, revealed that the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel significantly influenced her decision to sell Paramount.
The attacks, which heightened her concerns about media coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict, left her feeling that CBS News, particularly 60 Minutes, was not providing balanced reporting.
She expressed frustration with what she perceived as inadequate coverage of the war in Gaza, notably criticizing a 60 Minutes report in January 2024 that explored America’s role in supplying munitions to Israel. This dissatisfaction was compounded by her reaction to a September 2023 60 Minutes interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates, where she supported anchor Tony Dokoupil’s push for more pro-Israel perspectives, even calling him to express her approval after he was reprimanded for his approach.
Redstone’s concerns about CBS News’ editorial stance, particularly its coverage of the Middle East, led her to view the sale of Paramount as a way to address what she saw as journalistic imbalances.
In a quote reported on X, she stated:
She saw potential in external pressures, like Trump’s lawsuit, to push for changes in CBS News’ reporting.
Regarding Trump’s 60 Minutes lawsuit, filed in October 2024, Redstone partly welcomed it as a means to address her frustrations with the network’s coverage. The lawsuit, initially seeking $10 billion and later amended to $20 billion, alleged that 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris to favor her during the 2024 election. Trump claimed the network manipulated Harris’ “word salad” response about the Israel-Hamas conflict to make her appear more coherent.
Redstone’s motivations were also tied to the merger, which required FCC approval under Trump-appointed chairman Brendan Carr. Her push to settle the lawsuit and her reported requests to delay 60 Minutes stories critical of Trump were seen as efforts to avoid conflict with the Trump administration, which held sway over the merger’s fate.
Insiders noted that Redstone’s actions, including appointing Susan Zirinsky to oversee 60 Minutes standards, reflected her attempt to align the network’s coverage with her views and facilitate the merger. This led to tensions, culminating in the resignations of 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens and CBS News president Wendy McMahon, who cited corporate interference.
Redstone’s health challenges also added context to her decisions. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer in spring 2025, she faced personal pressures while navigating these corporate and legal battles. Her spokesperson confirmed she continued professional activities during treatment, but her health likely intensified her urgency to finalize the sale.