my image Image: Paramount / Skydance logos (Wikipedia)

Author: VANAS Team

Paramount and Skydance Merger Approved (Video)

Table of Contents

What’s the Big Deal about the Paramount–Skydance Merger?
Why It Matters to Media and Animation Fans
How the Merger Got Approved
What Changes Are Coming in the New Company
What Critics and Supporters Are Saying
How This Affects the World of Content and Animation
Frequently Asked Questions

1. What’s the Big Deal about the Paramount–Skydance Merger?

Back in July 2024, Paramount Global and Skydance Media agreed to merge in a deal valued at around $8 billion. The merged company is expected to be called Paramount Skydance Corporation, with David Ellison (who founded Skydance and is the son of Oracle’s Larry Ellison) leading the new entity.

This merger brings together major parts like CBS, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, and Skydance Animation. For animation fans especially, this means Skydance Animation and Paramount Animation will have more resources and possibly bigger animated movies and shows in the future.

2. Why It Matters to Media and Animation Fans

This merger is huge, especially if you’re interested in animation, film, TV, or video games. Here’s why:

Skydance will integrate its Skydance Animation unit with Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon’s portfolios (like SpongeBob and Avatar: The Last Airbender) to expand animation content offerings
More investment and scale could mean more jobs—and more cool animation projects coming later
If you’re thinking about studying animation or visual effects, this is a sign that animation remains a key growth area

VANAS Online Animation School offers Animation, Visual Effects, and Video Game programs. To launch your career, visit https://www.vanas.ca

3. How the Merger Got Approved

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the merger on July 24, 2025, after more than 250 days of review. The vote was split 2‑to‑1: FCC Chair Brendan Carr (appointed under Trump) supported it, while Anna Gomez (a Democratic appointee) dissented.

To secure approval, Skydance agreed to several major changes:

No diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the new company
Appointing an ombudsman for two years to monitor bias at CBS
Commitment to "unbiased" and fact‑based reporting with a range of political viewpoints

The deal also comes after Paramount quietly paid $16 million to Donald Trump to settle a lawsuit over an allegedly biased CBS interview on “60 Minutes.” Critics argue the timing of the settlement appeared to influence the merger approval.

4. What Changes Are Coming in the New Company

Skydance is promising about $1.5 billion in new investment into Paramount operations, plus possible $2 billion in cost savings through consolidation.

Major expected shifts include:

Leadership transition: David Ellison will become CEO, while Jeff Shell and others join as senior leaders
At CBS News, new editorial standards and leadership will be monitored by the ombudsman
CBS and cable networks like MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central may undergo restructures, layoffs, or portfolio changes, especially given planned cost cuts up to $2 billion
The animation divisions are expected to be combined, allowing franchises and resources to merge under one roof

5. What Critics and Supporters Are Saying

Here’s what different people are saying:

Supporters (like Brendan Carr):

“Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly. It is time for a change,” said Carr, welcoming Skydance’s commitments
They praised the removal of DEI policies and the pledge to ensure conservative viewpoints at CBS

Critics (like Anna Gomez and Democratic Senators):

Commissioner Gomez blasted the decision as “cowardly capitulation” that threatens press freedom and editorial independence
Senators Markey and Luján condemned the merger as “reeking of the worst form of corruption.” Elizabeth Warren suggested the $16 million was a bribe to get the deal done

At CBS, some staff voiced concern: “ The Ellisons really do have an opportunity to really rally the troops … and want to invest in CBS News and make CBS great again,” but others feared editorial interference after the settlement and deal closure

6. How This Affects the World of Content and Animation

If you’re into animation or thinking about studying it, here’s what this merger could mean:

Skydance’s animation team will gain access to Paramount’s big franchises like Nickelodeon shows, potentially leading to new cross‑overs or bigger animated films
The combined animation resources could mean larger teams, bigger budgets, more innovation in Visual Effects, and stronger pipeline for creative projects
With investment funding and streamlining, the scale of animation production may grow dramatically—think more shows, games, or animated movies. That’s great news for people learning animation today

VANAS Online Animation School offers Animation, Visual Effects, and Video Game programs. To launch your career, visit https://www.vanas.ca

With streaming continuing to expand and demand for animated content rising, the merger introduces a fresh era for high-quality, diverse programming across platforms.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

What companies are part of the merger?

The merger puts together Paramount Global (owner of Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Showtime) and Skydance Media (including Skydance Animation), forming Paramount Skydance Corporation.

When was the merger approved and when will it complete?

The FCC approved the merger on July 24, 2025 after over 250 days of review. The merger is expected to officially close by August 7, 2025.

Why did Paramount pay Donald Trump $16 million?

Paramount settled a lawsuit with Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview that was edited in a way Trump claimed favored his opponent. Critics say the payment may have influenced the FCC approval.

What is an ombudsman, and why does CBS need one?

An ombudsman (or public editor) is an independent overseer who reviews complaints about bias or fairness in reporting. As a merger condition, Skydance agreed to add one at CBS for two years to monitor content for bias.

How does this affect animation and entertainment?

Skydance Animation will merge with Paramount’s existing animation units and Nickelodeon franchises. That should mean more animated content, more investment in Visual Effects, and new opportunities for creative collaborations.

Could this affect jobs or the animation industry?

Yes—Skydance has identified up to $2 billion in cost savings, which could mean layoffs or restructuring, especially in cable networks. But for animation programs, this may signal growth potential in the long run.

VANAS Online Animation School offers Animation, Visual Effects, and Video Game programs. To launch your career, visit https://www.vanas.ca