Donald Trump isn't even in the Oval Office, but the people he's chosen to run the regulatory apparatus are promising big changes in deal-making, some of it good, some of it for the better, but Biden's peeps Some mergers are better approved than others, while others are not. Very good, On The Money learned.
One deal sure to garner attention is independent studio Skydance's $28 billion acquisition of Paramount, the large but troubled studio and television empire run by Shari Redstone. is.
That's because President Trump's people keep talking about finding a way to slow down or find a way to kill one of the biggest media deals of the year. The reason is allegations of substantial left-handed bias at CBS, one of Paramount's subsidiaries. News networks, once considered the gold standard of television journalism, are increasingly seen as the propaganda arm of the Democratic Party.
This is especially true for Trump supporters and those in key positions in the administration. They believe “60 Minutes” edited the word-prone Kamala Harris to sound more convincing just before the Nov. 5 election. CBS continues to refuse to release the full transcript of the interview, even after a clip of Harris' bumbling remarks appeared in previews for the segment.
In another example, after a harsh interrogation of far-left writer Ta-Nehisi Coates, who wrote a controversial article shockingly attacking Israel's response to the brutal massacre of innocent people on October 7, “CBS This includes the internal pressure placed on “Morning” anchor Tony Dokoupil. Jews by Hamas terrorists.
Now, the Trump people want answers, and more. A few weeks ago, Brendan Carr, President Trump's nominee to head the Federal Communications Commission, expressed concern that CBS was violating the Administrative Code and some of its “public interest” provisions. Telecom executives told On the Money that Carr continues to make it known that the FCC, which must approve such mergers, does more than just rubber-stamp the deals.
After the nomination of Gale Slater to head the Justice Department's antitrust division, Carr may at least have some support within the company to delay the timing of the merger, which is expected to close next year. Vance, a longtime telecommunications lawyer and legislative assistant to vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance during his time in the U.S. Senate, is said to be no friend of the mainstream media, and he also tried to throw a monkey wrench into the deal. Sources said there may be.
On the Money hears that the folks at Skydance are apparently taking this threat seriously and could, and perhaps already have, brought in some big names. That will include leaning on Larry Ellison, a friend and supporter of the president-elect. Larry Ellison is the father of billionaire Oracle founder and Skydance CEO David Ellison.
My sources say the elder Ellison wants the deal to pass the approval process so Skydance can begin rebuilding Paramount, which has been severely hampered by cord-cutting and declining advertising. can. place.
A Skydance representative had no comment. Mr. Kerr and Mr. Slater could not be reached for comment.
