Group 1 - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Skydance Media's acquisition of Paramount Global for $8 billion, which is approximately 574.44 billion RMB [1] - Skydance has committed to implementing significant reforms at CBS and ensuring a diverse range of political and ideological perspectives in its news and entertainment programming [1] - Skydance has not yet implemented any "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" (DEI) initiatives and has pledged not to establish such measures in the new company [1] Group 2 - Skydance Media was founded by David Ellison, son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison [2] - Paramount is one of the largest media asset companies globally, with properties including Paramount Pictures and CBS, and is known for major IPs like the "Mission: Impossible" and "The Godfather" series [2] - Paramount has struggled with its transition to streaming and has faced internal power struggles, leading to the dismissal of former CEO Bob Bakish [2] Group 3 - The $8 billion investment from Skydance includes $2.4 billion paid to the controlling company, National Entertainment [2] - A new entity valued at $28 billion will be formed post-merger, with David Ellison as Chairman and CEO, and Jeff Shell as President [2] - The Ellison team aims to reposition Paramount to enhance profitability and invest more in faster-growing digital platforms [2] Group 4 - Paramount Global had previously considered selling off some of its business units, but these efforts did not materialize [3] - Sony Pictures and private equity giant Apollo had also considered a $26 billion acquisition of Paramount, which ultimately did not succeed [3]

Getty Images Skydance Media's $8.4 billion merger with Paramount Global — a deal that's finally set to close next week, after a protracted regulatory review and behind-the-scenes wrangling — will go down as one of the blockbuster business stories of the year. But to frame it exclusively as such, as merely a big-dollar business transaction, is to also miss the larger forces at play once the deal is done that will indirectly touch millions of Americans. Specifically, millions of news and media consumers. In r ...

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Global is set to report its second quarter 2025 financial results on July 31, 2025, and will conduct a conference call to discuss these results [1] Group 1: Financial Reporting - The financial results will be announced on July 31, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. (ET) [1] - A conference call will be held to present prepared remarks regarding the financial results [1] - An audio replay of the call will be available starting at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on the same day [2] Group 2: Company Overview - Paramount Global is a leading global media, streaming, and entertainment company, known for creating premium content and experiences [3] - The company's portfolio includes well-known brands such as CBS, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+, and Pluto TV [3] - Paramount holds one of the industry's most extensive libraries of TV and film titles, along with innovative streaming services and digital video products [3]

Core Viewpoint - CBS' decision to end "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" reflects broader challenges in the late-night television landscape, with implications for the future of traditional TV as streaming and changing consumer habits reshape the industry [1][6][19]. Industry Context - The cancellation of Colbert's show is seen as a potential indicator of the decline of late-night TV, especially as Disney's decision on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" looms [2][6]. - The production costs for late-night programs have increased significantly due to the rise of streaming services and changing viewer preferences, leading to a loss of advertising revenue as traditional pay TV subscriptions decline [7][10]. Financial Performance - "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" employed around 200 people and incurred annual losses of approximately $40 million, similar to "Jimmy Kimmel Live," which employs about 250 people [11]. - Paramount reported a 21% decline in first-quarter TV advertising revenue to $2.04 billion, largely due to the absence of the Super Bowl, with overall revenue for its TV segment down 13% [14]. - Disney's domestic linear networks saw a 3% decrease in quarterly revenue to $2.2 billion, attributed to lower ad revenue, although ESPN and sports-related advertising revenue increased [16]. Viewership Trends - Colbert's show averaged roughly 1.9 million viewers during the September-to-May period, with a significant portion of the audience over 65 years old, indicating a demographic shift in viewership [21]. - Kimmel's viewership also declined, averaging nearly 1.6 million viewers in the most recent period compared to previous years [22]. Strategic Decisions - CBS' cancellation of "The Late Show" has raised questions about whether alternative cost-saving measures could have been explored, as other networks have made adjustments to retain late-night programming [24].

Group 1 - The merger deal between Paramount Global and Skydance Media has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [1] - Paramount will hire an inspector for a two-year term to assess complaints related to bias [1]

Group 1 - Paramount and Skydance's merger is set to close on August 7, following confirmation from both companies [1][2] - The transaction, valued at over $8 billion, received approval from the FCC, marking the end of a year-long process [2] - The new entity will trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol PSKY, replacing Paramount's previous ticker PARA [3] Group 2 - Deadlines for Paramount stockholders to elect their form of consideration have been established, with common shareholders having until July 31 and employees until July 28 [4] - Shareholders who do not make an election will automatically receive stock in the new company, with the value of Paramount Class B shares set at $15 [5] - Concerns remain regarding potential layoffs and the future of the company's linear cable networks, which are experiencing declining ratings and advertising revenue [6] Group 3 - Following the FCC decision, shares in Paramount Global initially rose but ended the day down 1.6% at $13.05 [7]

Group 1 - The merger between Paramount and Skydance is set to close on August 7, following the FCC's approval of the $8 billion-plus transaction [1][2] - The new entity will trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol PSKY, replacing Paramount's previous ticker PARA [2] - Shareholders of Paramount have specific deadlines to elect their preferred form of consideration for their shares, with common shareholders having until July 31 [3] Group 2 - Shareholders who do not make an election will automatically receive stock in the new company, with the value of Paramount Class B shares set at $15 [4] - There are concerns regarding potential layoffs and the future of the company's linear cable networks, which are experiencing declining ratings and advertising revenue due to cord-cutting [5] - Following the FCC decision, shares in Paramount Global initially rose but ended the day down 1.6% at $13.05 [6]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Global and Skydance Media are set to finalize their transactions on August 7, 2025, pending customary closing conditions [1] Election Deadlines - The Election Deadline for Paramount stockholders of record is 5:00 p.m. on July 31, 2025 [8] - Current or former employees holding shares via the Morgan Stanley Stock Plan Account have an Election Deadline of 4:00 p.m. on July 28, 2025 [8] - Shares held through the Paramount Global 401(k) Plan also have an Election Deadline of 4:00 p.m. on July 28, 2025 [8] Trading Information - Following the closing of the Transactions, shares of Class B common stock of New Paramount are expected to begin trading on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "PSKY" [6] - Paramount's Class B common stock (NASDAQ: PARA) and Class A common stock (NASDAQ: PARAA) will cease trading after the Transactions close [6] Communication and Assistance - Stockholders can direct questions regarding the election process to Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, or D.F. King & Co., Inc. for inquiries about the Transactions [5]

Core Viewpoint David Ellison is set to become the chairman and CEO of Paramount following its merger with Skydance, positioning him as a significant player in Hollywood and overseeing major brands like CBS, MTV, and Paramount Pictures [1][3]. Company Overview - David Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, is transitioning from a film producer to a leadership role at Paramount after the merger with Skydance, which was approved by the FCC [1][2]. - The merger agreement values Skydance at $4.75 billion, highlighting the financial significance of this consolidation in the entertainment industry [7]. Leadership and Vision - Ellison aims to transform Paramount into a "tech hybrid" company, leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance content creation and streamline production processes [9]. - He envisions building a "studio in the cloud" in partnership with Oracle, focusing on improving streaming service algorithms to enhance user engagement [9]. Political and Industry Context - The merger faced political scrutiny, with the FCC approving it amid claims of influence from the Trump administration, including a settlement involving CBS [3][12]. - Ellison's political donations and relationships, including a nearly $1 million contribution to Biden's campaign, contrast with his recent alignment with Trump, indicating a complex political landscape [8]. Industry Impact - The merger is expected to bring significant changes to CBS, with promises to enhance diversity of viewpoints in news coverage and address ideological biases [9][12]. - Support from notable figures in Hollywood, such as Ben Affleck and Jane Fonda, suggests a positive reception to Ellison's leadership and vision for Paramount [10][11].

I think that the ongoing uh cost cuts are the a path forward uh but not maybe the best one. Uh I think that there are opportunities for growth, but the reality is that if they keep doing what they're doing, there is no growth. We'll stop.>> I'm curious about the leadership structure of this new company. So you have one David Ellison, the son of course of a a very famous and and rich tech entrepreneur. He's 42 years old.David Ellison is and I I look at sort of who's going to remain with this company. George ...