Luján, Markey Urge FCC to Operate Transparently with Paramount-SkyDance Merger

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, urging the FCC to take a full Commission vote on the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. Given the reports that Paramount is considering settling a frivolous lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump against CBS, a Paramount subsidiary, the senators stated that the FCC should only approve the merger with an affirmative vote by the full Commission.

In the letter the lawmakers write, “In late October, then-candidate Trump sued CBS for $10 billion — later raising this outrageous amount to $20 billion — for supposedly deceptively editing an interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris on its programs 60 Minutes and Face the Nation. As the transcript of the interview showed, the excerpts that CBS aired were a quintessential example of editorial decision-making. Trump’s claim that such conduct constituted ‘voter interference’ and violated Texas’s consumer protection law is both false and a clear attempt to intimidate the news media. CBS has rightfully moved to dismiss the case.”

The lawmakers continue, “Despite the obviously frivolous nature of the lawsuit, Paramount is reportedly considering settling the case to ‘increase the odds that the Trump administration does not block or delay’ its merger with Skydance. In fact, Paramount executives and directors are reportedly concerned that such a settlement could open them up to accusations of bribery. Paramount would not be the first to settle a lawsuit brought by the President in the past few months. In the weeks following the inauguration, ABC ($16 million), Meta ($25 million), and X ($10 million) all settled cases brought by Trump. With Paramount on the hook to pay Skydance a $400 million breakup fee if the FCC blocks the deal, the company has strong financial incentives to facilitate FCC approval of the merger.”

The lawmakers conclude, “For those reasons, this transaction has signs of a deal between a company eager for approval of a multi-billion dollar merger and a President willing to exploit his position to intimidate the media and secure a multi-million dollar payout. The unique position of this merger necessitates the utmost transparency at the FCC. A matter of this significance deserves the scrutiny of the entire Commission. We urge you to only approve this merger through a full Commission vote.”

As Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, Senator Luján has pushed back against attacks on news organizations. In February, Senators Luján, Markey, and Peters wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Nathan Simington condemning actions taken by the FCC under the Trump administration demonstrating that the FCC is weaponizing its authority over broadcasters and public media for political purposes. In March, Senators Luján, Markey, and Rosen introduced the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act, legislation that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from revoking broadcast licenses or taking action against broadcasters based on the viewpoints they broadcast.

The text of the letter is here and below:

Dear Chairman Carr,

With the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) currently reviewing the proposed merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, we urge you to approve the transaction only with an affirmative vote by the full Commission. Although the Commission has delegated authority for its Media Bureau to decide certain matters without a full Commission vote, this transaction is unique from other mergers that have come before the Commission. In particular, Paramount is reportedly considering settling a frivolous, unrelated lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against CBS, a Paramount subsidiary. Given the high profile of this deal and, at the very least, the appearance of impropriety, we strongly urge you to approve the merger only with a vote by the full Commission.

The unique position of this case stems from President Trump’s ongoing, frivolous litigation against CBS. In late October, then-candidate Trump sued CBS for $10 billion — later raising this outrageous amount to $20 billion — for supposedly deceptively editing an interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris on its programs 60 Minutes and Face the Nation. As the transcript of the interview showed, the excerpts that CBS aired were a quintessential example of editorial decision-making. Trump’s claim that such conduct constituted “voter interference” and violated Texas’s consumer protection law is both false and a clear attempt to intimidate the news media. CBS has rightfully moved to dismiss the case.

Despite the obviously frivolous nature of the lawsuit, Paramount is reportedly considering settling the case to “increase the odds that the Trump administration does not block or delay” its merger with Skydance. In fact, Paramount executives and directors are reportedly concerned that such a settlement could open them up to accusations of bribery. Paramount would not be the first to settle a lawsuit brought by the President in the past few months. In the weeks following the inauguration, ABC ($16 million), Meta ($25 million), and X ($10 million) all settled cases brought by Trump. With Paramount on the hook to pay Skydance a $400 million breakup fee if the FCC blocks the deal, the company has strong financial incentives to facilitate FCC approval of the merger.

For those reasons, this transaction has signs of a deal between a company eager for approval of a multi-billion dollar merger and a President willing to exploit his position to intimidate the media and secure a multi-million dollar payout. The unique position of this merger necessitates the utmost transparency at the FCC. A matter of this significance deserves the scrutiny of the entire Commission. We urge you to only approve this merger through a full Commission vote.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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