Senators Markey and Luján Once More Petition for FCC Vote Regarding Paramount-Skydance Merger Agreement
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, but not without raising concerns from Senators Edward J. Markey and Ben Ray Luján. The senators have repeatedly called for a full, transparent vote on the merger, citing concerns about corruption and editorial independence.
The unique circumstance of the merger is that President Donald Trump was actively litigating against a news organization (CBS, owned by Paramount Global) whose parent company was seeking approval for the merger. Trump's lawsuit, which was described as "baseless" by the senators, alleged that CBS had violated state consumer protection laws through its editorial decisions around an interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
The senators argue that the settlement with Trump, which reportedly aimed at helping facilitate approval of the merger, casts a shadow over the proposed merger. They contend that questions regarding media independence should not be ignored by the FCC.
The senators criticized the FCC's partisan vote as a "dark day for independent journalism" and expressed concern over the rushed approval following the lawsuit settlement. They had previously urged FCC leaders, including Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Olivia Trusty, to ensure a full commission vote rather than a partisan decision. Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat on the FCC, also called for a full vote on the merger.
In a new letter written on July 10, 2022, the senators reiterated their call for a full Federal Communications Commission vote on the pending Paramount Global-Skydance Media merger. They urge Chairman Carr to schedule a full Commission vote on the merger, arguing that the FCC owes the public a transparent, deliberative process on such a high-profile and controversial issue.
As of the writing of the letter, no specific date for the full vote on the Paramount-Skydance Media merger has been provided. The senators' calls for a vote on the merger were made prior to the settlement.
The transcript of the interview indisputably showed that Trump's claims were a flagrant attempt to intimidate the media. The senators' concerns about the editorial independence of one of the nation's largest media organizations in light of the settlement are well-founded. The FCC's approval of the merger in a partisan vote, just two days after the settlement, adds to these concerns.
The senators' calls for a full, transparent vote on the Paramount-Skydance Media merger are a necessary step towards ensuring the integrity of the media and the democratic process. The public has a right to know that the FCC's decisions are made in the interest of the people, not in the interest of a single individual or corporation.
- The senators argue that the settlement with President Trump, which reportedly aimed at helping facilitate approval of the Paramount Global-Skydance Media merger, casts a shadow over the proposed merger, as questions regarding media independence should not be ignored by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
- Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat on the FCC, also called for a full vote on the Paramount Global-Skydance Media merger, joining the senators' calls for transparency in the decision-making process.
- The senators' calls for a full Federal Communications Commission vote on the pending Paramount Global-Skydance Media merger are a necessary step towards ensuring the integrity of the media and the democratic process, as the public has a right to know that the FCC's decisions are made in the interest of the people, not in the interest of a single individual or corporation.
- The senators' concerns about the editorial independence of one of the nation's largest media organizations in light of the settlement, following the FCC's approval of the merger in a partisan vote, are well-founded, particularly given the transcript of the interview that indisputably showed Trump's claims were a flagrant attempt to intimidate the media.
