Paramount World boss Shari Redstone requested CBS brass to delay airing delicate tales about President Trump and his insurance policies till after she closes the deal to merge with Skydance Media, The Submit has discovered.
In line with a supply with information, Redstone had change into more and more involved over a handful of “60 Minutes” tales that drew criticism from the president and the Federal Communications Fee.
The media heiress referred to as CBS CEO George Cheeks in April to precise her issues about important Trump tales on Ukraine and Greenland that brought on the president to induce FCC chair Brendan Carr in a Fact Social Submit to “impose the maximum fines and punishment,” the supply mentioned.
forward of the Paramount-Skydance merger. Selection through Getty Photos
Puck Information, which was first to report Redstone’s request to Cheeks, mentioned she requested the exec what else she may anticipate from this system and wished to know if it might be attainable to delay delicate tales about Trump and his insurance policies till after she closed the Skydance deal.
The outlet added that there’s no proof of Redstone’s elevated oversight of “60 Minutes” that has brought on the present to alter its programming, nor has Cheeks ever tried to execute her request.
CBS declined to remark. A rep for Redstone didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
A CBS insider advised The Submit that Redstone’s request isn’t essentially out of the peculiar; typically execs make it clear to community brass that there are delicate instances to carry off on operating sure tales.
However on this case, the state of affairs is totally different; there’s a highlight on “60 Minutes,” which is within the crosshairs of President Trump over alleged bias.
Presently Paramount is in mediation with attorneys for Trump, after he filed a $20 billion lawsuit towards “60 Minutes,” during which he alleged the present “deceptively edited” its sitdown with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who was operating for president on the time, to make her look higher
Carr, who’s charged with greenlighting Paramount’s $8.4 billion merger with Skydance, has additionally launched a probe into the interview over claims of “news distortion.”
“60 Minutes” has claimed no wrongdoing and launched the unedited interview and transcript of the sitdown, however the episode has rankled journalists within the community.
Final week, Invoice Owens, the top of the present, stepped down, citing issues a couple of lack of editorial independence.
In current months, Owens bumped heads with increased ups on the firm, notably Redstone.
Redstone, whose household stands to pocket about $1.75 billion if the $8 billion merger with Skydance Media goes by means of, allegedly pressed CBS Information president Wendy McMahon to fireplace Owens for airing of a one-sided January report on the Gaza Conflict.
Following the episode, Redstone insisted that Susan Zirinsky, a legendary CBS producer who additionally served because the information division’s president from 2019 to 2021, oversee the Requirements & Practices of “60 Minutes” and different CBS Information applications.
Owens privately bristled on the appointment of Zirinsky, who had as soon as been in a bake-off with him for his job on the present. Zirinsky later introduced in CBS Information veteran Al Ortiz to assist her with oversight of “60 Minutes,” which was far more palatable to Owens.
Owens’ issues of editorial interference had been echoed by “60 Minutes” anchor Scott Pelley, who launched right into a stunning on-air assault of Paramount on Sunday, during which he accused prime brass of interfering with this system’s protection.
In a tribute to “60 Minutes” Owens, Pelley went off on Paramount’s heavy handed-interference, which brought on his boss to resign.
Though Pelley mentioned “none of our stories have been blocked,” he famous that Owens “felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires.”
