Paramount Skydance Rejects $300,000 Press Freedom Ad Criticizing Merger as Conflict of Interest
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 16
Paramount Skydance Rejects $300,000 Press Freedom Ad Criticizing Merger as Conflict of Interest
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 16
Summary
A 30-second Freedom of the Press Foundation ad attacking Paramount leadership and its merger plans was blocked two days before Sunday’s UFC event at the White House, after the group sought placement on Paramount+.
Paramount’s sales representative told the ad buyer the creative was rejected as a “conflict of interest,” ending talks that had otherwise proceeded normally once the actual spot was submitted.
The unaired ad said CBS owners “cut deals and caved to Trump,” cited turmoil at 60 Minutes, and urged viewers to “block this merger,” which the group says threatens press freedom.
The foundation now plans to run the ad on its anti-merger website; the deal won U.S. Justice Department approval on Friday but still faces regulatory hurdles outside the United States.