FCC Chairman Brendan Carr mentioned “all options are on the table” as he critiques Paramount International’s merger with Skydance Media – a day after “60 Minutes” host Scott Pelley launched an astonishing on-air assault on CBS proprietor Paramount that accused them of interfering with this system’s protection.
Pelley went rogue on the finish of Sunday evening’s episode throughout what gave the impression to be a easy tribute to Invoice Owens, the longtime “60 Minutes” govt producer who give up final week over the corporate’s heavy-handed interference.
“Bill resigned Tuesday — it was hard on him and hard on us,” Pelley mentioned in his closing remarks on the present he has labored on for greater than 20 years.
“But he did it for us — and you,” he informed viewers — then unexpectedly steered that Owens’ exit may finish the period of protection being “accurate and fair.”
“Our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger,” he mentioned, noting that it wants approval from the Trump administration. “Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways.”
Pelley mentioned that whereas “none of our stories have been blocked,” Owens “felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires.”
Trump’s head of the Federal Communications Fee mentioned Monday that he’ll assessment complaints over alleged information distortion in CBS’ “60 Minutes’” sitdown with then-Vice President Kamala Harris however he didn’t present a timeline for making a call.
Carr final month rejected a bid from CBS to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the Harris interview violated the FCC’s “news distortion” guidelines. Paramount is in search of FCC approval for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media.
In the meantime, the CBS-produced present is at present embroiled in a $20 billion lawsuit with President Trump, who claims that the present deceptively edited the sitdown to profit Harris. The president has additionally criticized this system for being biased underneath govt producer Invoice Owens.
Carr was requested what would occur along with his probe if the authorized case, which is in mediation, was settled quickly.
“We’re simply focused on the record that’s before us,” Carr mentioned, declining to handle a hypothetical query on what he would do if Trump directed him to approve the merger. “We’re just going to apply the law and the facts.”
The Put up had reported months earlier that Owens could possibly be a sacrificial lamb because the merger neared completion.
“It shows a lot of balls for someone who understands that nobody is untouchable at this at the point,” a CBS insider informed The Put up, talking of Pelley’s transfer to chastise his bosses.
A second insider mentioned “Pelley is fed up with corporate disrespect for journalistic independence.”
A 20-year verteran of CBS, Owens, held the function of govt producer of “60 Minutes” since 2019. In current months, Owens has bumped heads with greater ups on the firm, notably Paramount boss Shari Redstone.
Redstone, whose household stands to pocket about $1.75 billion if the $8 billion merger with Skydance Media goes by, allegedly pressed CBS Information president Wendy McMahon to fireside Owens for airing of a one-sided January report on the Gaza Struggle.
“No one here is happy about it,” Pelley mentioned. “But in resigning, Bill proved one thing — he was the right person to lead ’60 Minutes’ all along.”
