Gomez Urges Review of Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is calling on the FCC to “conduct a full, independent, and rigorous review of the foreign ownership interests embedded in the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.” Noting that under federal law, foreign governments and their representatives are prohibited from owning the licenses of CBS’s television stations and any indirect foreign ownership above 25% 
requires Commission approval after a serious look into whether that arrangement serves the American public and protects our national security. Gomez states, “The American public deserves to know who owns the airwaves that carry their news. I am alarmed by what appears to be an effort to rubber stamp a financial structure that places nearly half of one of America’s largest broadcast and media companies into the hands of foreign governments with documented records of press suppression and a troubling willingness to silence journalists. There are serious, unresolved questions about how this foreign investment may jeopardize national security, and this Commission has a legal obligation to answer them before handing wealthy friends of this administration yet another Billionaire Buddy Bypass on a transaction that strikes at the heart of American journalism.” In her statement, Gomez points out that this deal involves sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi investing in a company that controls CBS broadcast stations, as well as major cable news operations including CNN. According to Paramount’s own filing, total foreign ownership of the combined company upon closing would reach approximately 49.5 percent. Nearly half of one of America’s largest broadcast and media companies would be in foreign hands.
CNN, FOX News Media, NBC News, and Newsmax are declining to sign the agreement. A joint statement from ABC News, CBS News, CNN, FOX News Media, and NBC News says, “Today, we join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon’s new requirements, which would restrict journalists’ ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues. The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections. We will continue to cover the U.S. military as each of our organizations has done for many decades, upholding the principles of a free and independent press.” Newsmax adds, “We are working in conjunction with other media outlets to resolve the situation. We believe the requirements are unnecessary and onerous and hope that the Pentagon will review the matter further.”
During my tenure at NBC, once a month the division heads would meet at the behest of the CEO to report on their progress and trends in their sector. As the executive vice president of the FM division, I took a seat in that formidable group and tried to keep my remarks as brief as possible. What could I possibly say that would be more damn important than the words of the president of NBC News or the NBC Television network? In addition to NBC’s CEO, the CEO of owner RCA would often join the fun.
few weeks. Dobbs was part of the debut of CNN in 1980, serving as vice president and host of the “Moneyline” program. He joined FOX Business in 2011 and served there until exiting in 2021 after being named in the Smartmatic defamation suit. During his career, Dobbs also hosted a talk radio show syndicated by United Stations Radio Networks from 2008 through 2012. He also hosted the “Lou Dobbs Financial Report” syndicated by Salem Radio Network. The program “Lou Dobbs Tonight” won an Emmy in 2004, and Dobbs won a George Foster Peabody Award for his coverage of the 1987 stock market crash.
-digits in the key 25-54 demo. For the second quarter in a row, CNN hit a 33-year low in total day, 18-49 and 25-54 demos, delivering its smallest younger audience since 1991. In total day, FNC delivered 1,304,000 viewers, 154,000 with 25-54 demo and 96,000 with 18-49 demo, securing a 176% advantage over CNN viewers and 61% over MSNBC. In primetime from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm, FNC saw 2,037,000 viewers, 214,000 in the 25-54 demo, and 135,000 with 18-49 demo, a 230% lead over CNN and 77% over MSNBC. FNC continued to dominate the share of the cable news audience, capturing 50% of viewers across total day and 54% of prime viewers, the highest level of share for the network since 1Q’2023.
she’ll provide analysis across the network’s platforms. In addition to her contributor role, she is also a columnist for OutKick and will continue to host her bi-weekly podcast “Getting Hammered” alongside Vic Matus. Ham previously was a FOX News contributor from 2007-2015. She went on to serve as a CNN contributor, departing the network after being suspended in 2022 for speaking out against then-legal contributor Jeffrey Toobin and his Zoom scandal.
quarters, according to Nielsen Media Research. FNC adds that its primetime lineup sweept cable news every hour. “The Ingraham Angle” (7:00 pm ET) finished the quarter averaging 2.2 million viewers and 222,000 in the 25-54 demo. “Jesse Watters Primetime” (8:00 pm ET) delivered 2.8 million viewers and 284,000 in the 25-54 demo. “Hannity” (9:00 pm ET) remained dominant, nabbing 2.4 million viewers and 266,000 in the 25-54 demo, easily winning the timeslot and topping CNN and MSNBC in both categories. And “FOX News @ Night” (10:00 pm ET) delivered 1.2 million viewers and 187,000 in 25-54 demo.
comprehensive collection of the top national and regional news stations to help listeners stay up to date on the latest in the race to the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election in November. The ‘Election Channel’ brings together all voices and viewpoints to empower listeners to stay informed on all party news.” TuneIn adds that its coverage includes national and global news networks and stations, including NBC News NOW, CNN, MSNBC, FOX News Radio, Newsmax and Progressive Voices, plus local stations across the country.
Now that every single thing is a political argument, the angry social media conversation about Taylor Swift is unsurprising. And with the Super Bowl looming, the decibel level amps-up.
with the success of its daytime programming, positions it as the number one network in cable news. FNC says it had the largest share of the audience in total day (46%) and primetime (48%), capturing nearly half of the cable news landscape. In primetime, FNC delivered nearly 2 million viewers and 214,000 in the 25-54 demo, topping CNN and MSNBC combined in total viewership. On a 24-hour total day basis, FNC averaged over 1.2 million viewers and 150,000 in 25-54, with a 153% advantage over CNN in viewers. FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott says, “During yet another unprecedented news cycle, cable viewers continued to choose FOX News Channel. From moderating debates to reporting in war zones and many stories in between, I am honored to work alongside this unrivaled team of journalists and opinion hosts as they continue to exceed expectations.”
cable channel while speaking on WABC’s “Sid & Friends in the Morning” program. When asked by the Post about details of a bid for CNN, including how much he’d pay, he said, “It’s up to the investment bankers to come up with the numbers… We could always bring partners in, but I want to run the place. We are capable of putting down a substantial amount of money.” Catsimatidis added, “I’d go run the place tomorrow morning, and all I’d want is $1 per year and a piece of the upside,” saying he could “double the profits” in a brief period of time. 
Cooper 360” with 447,000. The new 9:00 pm ET show “Chris Plante The Right Squad” pulled an audience of 325,000 impressions, defeating CNN’s “Whole Story” with 293,000. And at 10:00 pm ET “Greg Kelly Reports” took first place with 278,000 viewers, compared to Chris Wallace giving CNN an audience of just 263,000. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy says, “Newsmax has witnessed a consistent, positive trend for weeks and we are looking forward to enormous interest in the network as we draw closer to the GOP primaries and ’24 election.”
Tik-Tok is hot (largely among users too young to be heavy AM/FM listeners) and it’s in-the-news (about its possible ban). And, yes, Facebook remains T-Rex in the social media jungle. But people on Twitter seem to live there.
conservatives were likely to cheer the news of Lemon’s dismissal, the Carlson departure was far more nuanced as it came a week after FOX agreed to a $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems and after discovery in the case revealed 
texts that offered a behind-the-scenes look at FOX News personalities’ frank opinions about the 2020 election, January 6, and their co-workers and bosses. The breaking news even prompted the vacationing Mike Gallagher to find a studio in London from which to do a special edition of his Salem Radio Network program today (4/25). Salem VP/news & talk programming Tom Tradup says, “Mike Gallagher’s programming instincts are second to none. Despite being on vacation overseas, he recognized the importance of the Tucker Carlson departure and insisted on parachuting back into his talk show to give listeners the chance to sound off of what likely will be one of the biggest political stories on 2023.” 
combined with total day and primetime viewers and the A25-54 demo for the seventh consecutive quarter. FOX News Channel reports that its total primetime viewers for March 2023 was 2,094,000 (down 27% from March 2022), while CNN’s total primetime viewers was 473,000 (down 61% from March 2022) and MSNBC’s total primetime viewers was 1,135,000 total viewers (down 12% from March 2022).