Lawmakers Push For Full FCC Votes On Paramount Deal

Sens. Edward Markey and Ben Ray Luján, both Democrats, wrote to newly confirmed FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty, pressing for a full FCC vote on the $8 billion Paramount-Skydance merger rather than delegating the decision to the FCC's media bureau.

According to The Wrap, the senators noted that President Donald Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against CBS and “60 Minutes,” recently settled for $16 million without an apology from the network, has raised concerns about the merger. 

Olivia Trusty

They argued that the settlement casts doubt on Paramount’s motives and the deal’s impact on media independence, calling for a transparent FCC review process.“We urge you to ensure the FCC conducts its merger review with maximum transparency, including a full Commission vote,” they wrote, emphasizing the need for openness on this high-profile issue.

The FCC, tasked with reviewing the merger due to broadcast license transfers, typically aims to decide within 180 days, though this is not binding. The Paramount-Skydance review is currently at day 238, according to the FCC’s website.

Both Paramount and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr have stated that Trump’s lawsuit and settlement are unrelated to the merger review. However, Carr has indicated that the FCC’s separate probe into alleged “news distortion” tied to a Kamala Harris interview could lead to consequences, including the potential revocation of CBS’s broadcast license if public interest standards are found to be violated.