China Ties and Sexual Harassment Raised in Skydance/Paramount Deal Approval
Opponents of Skydance Media's proposed purchase of Paramount Global raised red flags over the buyer's alleged Chinese government ties and over possible sexual harassment issues. Petitions were filed in a new round of pleadings surrounding the $8 billion deal (see…
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2411150058). Center for American Rights petitioned the FCC that M&A approval includes conditions that New Paramount commits to addressing issues concerning Tencent Holdings, a Chinese company with alleged close ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Tencent is a major Skydance shareholder and CAR wants assurances Skydance will protect New Paramount from foreign influence. CAR also said the agency should condition approval on New Paramount addressing news bias and lack of viewpoint diversity in CBS' news operation and amending hiring and promotion policies that CAR alleges discriminate against white people. LiveVideo.AI petitioned that the agency should deny the transaction based on Jeff Shell's becoming New Paramount's president. Shell was fired from Comcast for inappropriate conduct with a female employee (see 2304240009). "There is a high likelihood that more female employees will be put in harm's way if this merger goes through without proper precautions and safeguards in place," it said.