CBS is officially dead

[FakeNoose]

Federal regulators approve Paramount’s $8 billion deal with Skydance, capping months of turmoil

AP News link: https://apnews.com/article/paramount-skydance-merger-fcc-approval-74836c0da9dc0b33f580f714a3f2bfbb

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal regulators on Thursday approved Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance, clearing the way to close a deal that combined Hollywood glitz with political intrigue.

The stamp of approval from the Federal Communications Commission comes after months of turmoil revolving around President Donald Trump’s legal battle with “60 Minutes,” the crown jewel of Paramount-owned broadcast network CBS. With the specter of the Trump administration potentially blocking the hard-fought deal with Skydance, Paramount earlier this month agreed to pay a $16 million settlement with the president.

Critics of the settlement lambasted it as a veiled bribe to appease Trump, amid rising alarm over editorial independence overall. Further outrage also emerged after CBS said it was canceling Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” just days after the comedian sharply criticized the parent company’s settlement on air. Paramount cited financial reasons, but big names both within and outside the company have questioned those motives.

In a statement accompanying the deal’s approval, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr hailed the merger as an opportunity to bring more balance to “once-storied” CBS.

- more at link -



I guess we all knew this day was coming ... well now it's here.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Balance means you can't say anything liberal. /nt

[FakeNoose]

5. But it includes conservatives too, if they happen to criticize Chump

Chump is the definition of "thin-skinned" in that he can't take the slightest, tiniest insult or criticism.

[markodochartaigh]

6. Today's tolerated balance

is the fine line between right-wing and reich-wing.

[MW67]

2. F !

See B S

[MrWowWow]

3. CBS Started to Die After It Forced Dan Rather Out

Last edited Fri Jul 25, 2025, 11:54 PM - Edit history (6)

for his trying to be a truthteller while on-air.
.
"60 Minutes" aired a controversial segment in 2004 — just before the presidential election — that criticized President George W. Bush’s Texas Air National Guard service. The piece, reported by Dan Rather and produced by Mary Mapes, was based on documents whose authenticity was later heavily challenged.

After political and media backlash, CBS launched an internal investigation and issued a public apology. Rather and Mapes stood by the story’s core truth, but CBS distanced itself from them. The fallout led to:

CBS executives disavowing the segment

Firings and forced resignations (including Mapes)

Dan Rather stepping down as anchor months later and ultimately leaving CBS entirely

This retreat by "60 Minutes" leadership under pressure from political forces is widely seen as a form of institutional capitulation — or kowtowing — to the Bush administration and its allies.
.
.Reference Links:
1. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/10/business/media/cbs-forces-dan-rather-out-as-anchor.html


2. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4471113


3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2005/03/10/dan-rather-steps-down-as-cbs-anchor/0c0a5fc6-b15c-4a07-b739-b01ebf3ac8ff/


4. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/mar/10/usnews.broadcasting


5. https://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/09/rather.exit/index.html


6. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-10-fi-rather10-story.html


7. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/dan-rather-cbs-george-bush-60-minutes-scandal-1234629/


8. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/dan-rather-reflects-on-leaving-cbs


9. https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/dan-rather-cbs-scandal-60-minutes-msna206371

[underpants]

7. That was a targeted strike.

Rove.

[dem4decades]

8. Good call, they started to die then, today a formal death was declared

And a time of death declared.

[Permanut]

4. Won't miss 'em.

[writerJT]

11. I'm trying to remember the last time

I watched something on CBS. Probably Letterman’s last show.

[RubyRose]

35. I watch Survivor, amazing race, Elsbeth and Matlock

But not anything else.

[tinrobot]

9. It's not just CBS. All the major broadcast networks are circling the drain.

Who even watches TV over the air these days? Cable?

I'm sure some still do, but broadcast is declining fast.

[CTyankee]

12. I do. I'm old.

I don't stare into a cellphone and scroll like I see so many people do these days. It looks weird to me, everybody in their own little world scrolling on a little device in their hand, not making any eye contact with other people.

[Skittles]

14. THANK YOU

have you noticed how many young folk are getting that hang-head look way more common with older folk? I too think they look ridiculous, watching movies on a freaking tiny screen

[CTyankee]

16. Yep. And nobody looks at you unless you ask them to stop it if they wish to TALK to you!

[BidenRocks]

23. I see them at the market, oblivious.

I quit moving out of the way and let them hit me.
Only then do they look up and mutter, sorry.

I usually ask if they drive like that.

[Skittles]

25. I'm not saying it's only young folk

I see people of all generations acting the fool on cell phones - walking across the street oblivious to traffic, for example.

[BidenRocks]

29. With Digital Deals at the market

Everyone is on their phone, making the situation worse.

[Skittles]

30. omg I never take my phone with me anywhere

Last edited Thu Jul 24, 2025, 11:24 PM - Edit history (1)

and I'm convinced these "deals" all too often make people buy shit they otherwise would not have wanted

[llmart]

27. Yes, you are absolutely correct.

It is the reason why we are so divided and so many people with mental health issues. There is no longer any real connection with other people. They're all living in their own little world of them and their phones. They are oblivious to the people around them.

I find that us older people still strike up conversations with other people that we don't really know maybe while standing inline at the post office or grocery store or walking at the park. Even when I hire someone to work at my house, if they're young they have those earbuds in and any time I want to tell them something, I have to get their attention while they take out their earbuds and then I have to repeat what I wanted them to do.

I think it's inconsiderate and rude, but then I'm old like you.

[tinrobot]

34. I'm old, too. I cut out broadcast/cable over a decade ago.

And I don't stream TV to a cell phone, I watch it on a nice big screen in my living room.

[Deuxcents]

36. I do. I watch my local CBS station n on Friday, I watch the CBS national news so I can see On the Road with Tom Hartman

I also watch 60 Minutes.

[GenThePerservering]

10. CBS was alive? nt

[Hornedfrog2000]

13. If trump were a true man

He would have pulled the plug on the deal. What a weak ass pedophile donald trump is

[JPK]

15. When CBS fired Dan Rather

They were dead to me. They were my go to network for news. Lost me long ago. I know a lot of people here hate broadcast news but for me, NBC still has credibility, not only in their nightly national broadcast news but with MSNBC. They are hanging in there while the other two, ABC and CBS caved. I still think Jimmy Kimmel is a voice for late night shows along with Seth Meyers. Seth is on too late for me to watch regularly though I love his commentary.

The fact of the matter is, they will all survive. Jimmy, Steven, Seth, Jon, John Oliver regardless of their overlords do to appease the mango Mussolini. They will beg forgiveness then he is gone.

[bmichaelh]

17. Mel Brooks' Silent Movie

One time Paramount was owned by a company called Gulf + Western.

In Mel Brooks' film Silent Movie, a greedy corporation's name is Engulf and Devour.

[relayerbob]

18. South Park has provided their eulogy

[eggplant]

22. I can't wait to see the fallout.

[CountMyVote4Reality]

33. And brilliantly done.

RIP

[Bev54]

19. Wasn't CREW or some group waiting for this to go through

So they could take it to court for bribery and corruption?

[Gimpyknee]

20. No loss.

We cut ties to tv on November 9th, 2016.

[eggplant]

21. You can stream it almost immediately after it airs on YouTube.

[quakerboy]

24. Nothing corporate owned is on the side of the people

You cant serve two masters, as they say.

[H2O Man]

32. Thank you.

This is the most important point in this conversation.

[pnwmom]

26. WATCH (PARAMOUNT'S) SOUTH PARK'S RESPONSE TO THIS. Season 27, Episode 1

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220510973

[SleeplessinSoCal]

28. What's stopping them from canceling the cancellation?

[totodeinhere]

31. So only a few days after Colbert is canceled the merger is approved. n/t

[FakeNoose]

37. Yes, isn't that a co-inky-dinky?

[Kid Berwyn]

38. They did wait a day.

Some say, “Decorum,” I say, “Protocol.”