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Donald Trump’s media regulator is in talks with paramount concessions that the studio must make to gain the approval of its melting of $ 8 billion with Skydance, according to people familiar with the problem.
The negotiations between Brendan Carr, the president of the Federal Commission for American Communications, and Paramount intervened while the production company also faces a legal battle with Trump with its flagship CBS broadcaster.
Trump and Paramount lawyers are expected to arbitrate on April 30 on a trial of $ 20 billion led by the US President against CBS, people who were close to the situation said.
The two negotiations reflect the way in which American companies were forced to capitulate Trump's White House, or risk reprisals in the form of transactions and blocked proceedings.
Paramount has the eponymous cinema studio as well as CBS News. Trump continued CBS for defamation, claiming $ 20 billion in damages for what he alleys was a misleading modification of an interview with Kamala Harris, his opponent in the White House race last year.
Paramount movements to settle the trial with Trump have exasperated the CBS editorial hall in recent weeks, leading to resignation On the 60 minutes of executive producer on Tuesday.
Explaining his release, producer Bill Owens told staff: “In recent months, it has become clear that I would not be allowed to perform the show because I have always executed it. To make independent decisions depending on what was good for 60 minutes ”.
CBS and his lawyers said Trump's trial is without merit. However, Paramount considered paying a regulation to Trump as part of an effort to receive approval of his merger with Skydance, according to people familiar with the issue. Paramount and Skydance announced the agreement Last summer.
Carr, which Trump installed to direct the American media regulator, concluded the paramount-skidding agreement and delayed it for months. Carr last month said that the end of diversity, equity and inclusion programs was a pioneer for companies that sought to conclude transactions.
“All companies seeking FCC approval, I encourage them to take care of finishing all kinds of their forms of dei discrimination,” Carr in Bloomberg told.
Paramount speaks with Carr of a range of options, in particular to engage to avoid any dei policy in the future, said people familiar with the issue.
The Wall Street Journal reported the FCC talks with Paramount.
Carr has struck other media groups such as Disney and Comcast in recent months, warning that the FCC would investigate its diversity initiatives.
Last year, Trump continued ABC News after the George Stephanopoulos anchor falsely declared that Trump had been tried “rape”. Disney, which owns ABC, in December Paid $ 15 million At Trump's presidential library to settle the defamation trial.
