Skydance has made recent guarantees to the Federal Communications Fee because it seems to be to fast-track its merger with Paramount – together with a pledge to scrap DEI insurance policies at CBS Information and appoint an ombudsman to root out media bias on the community.
The Hollywood studio behind blockbusters together with “Mission: Impossible” mentioned in letters to the FCC that it’ll conduct a “comprehensive review” of CBS after the merger goes by means of to make sure the community is working within the public curiosity.
It’ll then put in place an ombudsman for a minimum of two years that may report on to the president of CBS Information with “any complaints of bias or other concerns,” based on copies of the letters earlier reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Skydance – which, “for its part, does not have DEI programs in place today and will not establish such initiatives” – additionally vowed to remove range applications at CBS Information.
The letters, which had been despatched Tuesday, got here as President Trump mentioned he expects to obtain an extra $20 million from Skydance in promoting and public service bulletins as soon as it takes management of Paramount, confirming an unique report by The Submit.
These public service advertisements will likely be tied to Trump-backed conservative causes, based on The Submit’s Charles Gasparino.
That’s on prime of a $16 million settlement from CBS Information over a lawsuit regarding a controversially-edited “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris.
Skydance didn’t instantly reply to requests looking for affirmation of this determine.
“The company is committed to ensuring that its storytelling reflects the many audiences and communities it serves in a manner that complies with non-discrimination requirements and other applicable laws,” Skydance’s basic counsel wrote within the letter.
That change will have an effect on CBS’ hiring, promotion, compensation and public messaging practices, in addition to its provider and vendor range objectives. It’ll additionally scrap the workplace of world inclusion.
Skydance is at the moment looking for FCC approval for the switch of CBS broadcast licenses, an integral a part of the acquisition course of, which has been in limbo for a few yr.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and CBS Information didn’t instantly reply to The Submit’s requests for remark.
There had been issues that Trump’s lawsuit in opposition to CBS Information over the “60 Minutes” scandal may stall the deal’s overview.
Within the letters, Skydance cited the Trump administration’s latest government orders on DEI and the Supreme Courtroom’s 2023 ruling overturning affirmative motion as its foundation for eliminating range insurance policies.
Earlier this yr, after launching a probe into Comcast’s DEI insurance policies, Carr warned that each one media firms regulated by the FCC ought to erase such applications.
“Every single business that’s regulated by the FCC … I trust that they have now got the message that the time to end their invidious forms of DEI discrimination is now,” Carr informed The Submit on the time.
