FCC Investigates Buy-Out of Paramount; Allegations of Liberal Bias at CBS

The FCC’s probe into the massive $8 billion Skydance-Paramount merger could hit a roadblock over alleged liberal bias at CBS News. Could this investigation derail one of the biggest media deals of the year?

At a Glance

  • The FCC may delay the $8 billion Skydance-Paramount merger approval until later this year
  • Investigation centers on complaint by the Center for American Rights about CBS News’ alleged liberal bias
  • Controversy stems from accusations of deceptive editing in Vice President Kamala Harris’ “60 Minutes” interview
  • President Trump has filed a lawsuit against CBS over the allegedly biased interview
  • FCC is considering remedies including relocating CBS operations and increasing political diversity in hiring

Liberal Bias Accusations Threaten Major Media Merger

The Federal Communications Commission is intensifying its scrutiny of the proposed $8 billion merger between Skydance and Paramount Global, potentially delaying approval until the second half of 2025. The holdup stems from serious allegations that CBS News, a Paramount-owned network, violated “public interest” rules by displaying left-wing bias in its programming, particularly during a controversial “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Center for American Rights formally filed a complaint with the FCC, triggering an inquiry that has now thrown uncertainty over one of the year’s biggest media deals. According to inside sources, FCC leadership isn’t rushing to rubber-stamp the merger while these concerns remain unaddressed. The controversy has escalated to the point where President Trump has filed a lawsuit against CBS, specifically targeting what he claims was deliberately deceptive editing of the Harris interview.

FCC Considering Drastic Remedies

As part of its investigation, the regulatory agency is reportedly exploring several potential solutions to address the alleged bias before allowing the merger to proceed. These remedies could include mandating relocations of CBS operations and implementing measures to increase political diversity in the network’s hiring practices—a direct challenge to the left-leaning culture critics say dominates mainstream media newsrooms.

The situation has become so serious that CBS has hired outside legal counsel to navigate the prolonged regulatory process. The FCC has scheduled late March for public comments on the merger, signaling this investigation won’t be wrapped up quickly. For Paramount owner Shari Redstone, this means potentially significant delays in receiving proceeds from the planned sale.

Conservative Concerns Over Media Bias Gain Traction

Sources close to FCC Chair Brendan Carr revealed the agency’s hesitancy to approve the deal quickly, with one insider noting that the Chair “is in no rush to approve this thing because he believes CBS is relentlessly biased in its programming and it goes beyond the ’60 Minutes’ interview.”

The scrutiny has already produced some results—CBS released the full transcript of the Harris interview after pressure from the FCC. This unusual level of regulatory involvement highlights growing concerns about mainstream media objectivity, particularly at a time when trust in legacy news organizations has reached historic lows among conservative Americans.

For Skydance, led by David Ellison, the delay complicates plans to restructure Paramount’s operations. The FCC’s focus on CBS News is particularly significant because while the agency’s oversight is limited to broadcasters rather than cable networks, the allegations cut to the heart of what many conservatives view as systemic bias in mainstream media coverage of political issues.

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