Story perspectives

FCC, Senate Probe Paramount-Discovery Deal’s Foreign Stake

5/22/2026

Summary

Carr Reviews Deal

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced a review of Paramount Global’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that would give the company 49.5% foreign equity, 38.5% from Saudi, Qatari and Abu Dhabi funds.
Senate Democrats led by Sen. Maria Cantwell urged a review, warning the governments’ press-suppression histories could affect U.S. media.
Paramount said the Ellison family will retain control, foreign investors will have no governance rights, and comments are due May 27.

Summary

Paramount Seeks Merger

Paramount aims to close the $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery by the end of September, after both companies' shareholders approved it.
California regulators and the European Union have opened inquiries, adding scrutiny beyond the FCC review.
Warner Bros. Discovery investors rebuked an $886 million golden-parachute payout for CEO David Zaslav linked to the merger.
The combined firm would dominate sports broadcasting rights—MLB, the French Open, NHL, and college sports—while lacking NBA coverage.

Summary

Carr Weighs Paramount

The FCC is reviewing a request to give a sovereign-wealth fund a sizable stake in a U.S. broadcaster via Paramount-Warner.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who earlier warned about foreign ownership of TikTok and blocked a radio-station transfer, now supports the Paramount deal.
Democratic Commissioner Anna Gómez called the petition “very serious,” urged a vigorous review and warned the sovereign funds are controlled by governments unfriendly to the press.

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Carr Reviews Deal

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced a review of Paramount Global’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that would give the company 49.5% foreign equity, 38.5% from Saudi, Qatari and Abu Dhabi funds.
Senate Democrats led by Sen. Maria Cantwell urged a review, warning the governments’ press-suppression histories could affect U.S. media.
Paramount said the Ellison family will retain control, foreign investors will have no governance rights, and comments are due May 27.

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