The FCC just approved that $8 billion Paramount and Skydance merger—but the drama behind the scenes might’ve been more intense than any blockbuster.
Before they could pop champagne, Paramount had to handle some serious controversy. First, CBS—owned by Paramount— cut ties with The Late Show host Stephen Colbert. The move came right after Colbert criticized the company for settling a lawsuit with Donald Trump. That settlement? A jaw-dropping $16 million payout to the former president over a 60 Minutes interview Trump claimed was edited to make him look bad.
Once Colbert called it out on air, his show was suddenly axed. That set off a firestorm. Fans, celebs, and even politicians slammed the network, saying it looked like CBS was silencing voices that challenge the right—just to keep things smooth for their merger approval.
And it doesn’t stop there. Paramount also laid off thousands, faced internal discrimination investigations, and got roasted by South Park in a brutal parody featuring a deepfake Trump. The episode called out the network’s willingness to cave under political pressure and left no one untouched.
Despite all that, the FCC gave the merger a thumbs up. Why? Apparently, Skydance promised to clean house and make CBS more politically balanced.
We’ll see about that.
For now, Paramount’s officially under new ownership—but with the way things have played out lately, folks are watching closely.
