Trump Claims Paramount's New Owner Will Pay $20M More in Settlement, Paramount Denies Allegations

President Trump claims Paramount's new owner, Skydance Media, will pay an additional $20 million for a '60 Minutes' settlement, citing a secret side deal. Paramount denies any knowledge of such an agreement. The merger awaits FCC approval, and Paramount faces challenges from declining revenues and pressure on digital advertising. Paramount stock has a Moderate Buy rating on TipRanks.

President Donald Trump recently claimed that Skydance Media, the new owner of Paramount Global, will contribute an additional $20 million in advertising, public service announcements (PSAs), or similar programming as part of a secret side deal. This claim comes amidst ongoing discussions surrounding the $8.4 billion merger between Skydance and Paramount, which is awaiting approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [3].

Trump's statement, posted on Truth Social, asserts that the settlement over his lawsuit against "60 Minutes" is worth "over $36 million" in total, including the $16 million settlement from Paramount and an additional $20 million from Skydance. However, Paramount has denied any knowledge of such an agreement, stating that the settlement does not include PSAs or anything related to PSAs [1].

The merger between Skydance and Paramount has faced numerous challenges, including concerns over editorial independence at CBS News and the potential impact on CBS's operational framework. Skydance CEO David Ellison has met with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to seek approval for the merger, emphasizing a commitment to diverse viewpoints and addressing concerns about Chinese influence [2].

Meanwhile, the merger has also sparked speculation about potential cancellations of high-profile shows like "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which CBS announced will be discontinued next year. The timing of this announcement coincides with the complexities introduced by the merger, and the influence of Skydance Media's impending control remains significant [2].

In the face of these challenges, Paramount faces declining revenues and pressure on digital advertising. The company's stock has a Moderate Buy rating on TipRanks, reflecting investor sentiment about the merger and its potential impact on Paramount's financial performance.

As the FCC evaluates the merger, investors and financial professionals are closely watching the developments. The approval of the merger could lead to significant changes in the competitive landscape of the entertainment industry, with Skydance Media anticipated to expand its content portfolio and accelerate innovation under the leadership of David Ellison [3].

References:
[1] https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/trump-unconfirmed-claim-skydance-20-million-advertising-psas-paramount-deal-1236467234/
[2] https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/david-ellison-fcc-chairman-paramount-deal-cbs-rcna219687
[3] https://www.ainvest.com/news/skydance-media-8-4-billion-paramount-global-merger-awaits-fcc-approval-2507/