Since CBS-OWNER PARAMONT GLOBAL is entering mediation this week to resolve the “60 minutes” of $ 20 billion, one question looms on the horizon: To what extent should the company pay to settle the dispute that the first amendment experts considered trivial?
Paramount Board of Directors agreed during a meeting on April 18 on standards for a possible settlement with Trump, according to two people familiar with discussions that were not allowed to comment.
The mediation sessions said on Wednesday, multiple sources said, and the company is keen to put a “60 -minute” controversy behind it so that it can move forward with the sale of it to the media in David Ellison.
The New York Times first reported that the directors of Paramount Company had agreed to the terms of the settlement.
The familiar people said that the members of the Board of Directors acted to provide clear guidance for the lawyers who would represent them during the mediation process. A prominent actor refused to comment.
Trump filed the lawsuit in Texas last October, claiming that CBS edited an interview “60 minutes” with the then head of the footnote, Kamal Harris, in an attempt to support her electoral opportunities.
Early this year, the president doubled the amount of damage that was seeking to $ 20 billion. for him An updated lawsuit To direct the case away from the first amendment issues, instead, “60 minutes” was a fraudulent product that harmed the viewers in Texas.
Puscent of the dominant shareholder in Paramount Shari Redstone to settle to facilitate the sale of Paramount to the family headed by Mogul Larry Elison billionaire. Redston’s willingness to appease Trump has sparked sharp protests inside the company.
Last week, Bill Owens, the executive producer of “60 minutes”, resigned, citing the additional companies ’pressure on the coverage.
On Sunday, CBS Newsman Scott Billy told “60 minutes” viewers About the resignation of Owens. Pelly revealed that the offer was facing an increase in corporate control over Paramount’s desire to win with the Trump administration’s approval of the Skydance deal.
The Federal Communications Committee must agree to transfer the CBS television station licenses to the Elison family.
“None of our stories has been banned,” Billy told viewers at the end of the broadcast. “But Bill felt that he lost the independence required by the sincere press.”
The sources said that Redston, who is the president of Paramount, denounced herself from discussions on the settlement. I have declined to vote on some prominent issues related to selling the company due to conflicting interests. Her family expects $ 1.75 billion as part of Skydance sale.
However, Paramount can face a legal reaction if it comes out of a great deal of Trump’s relaxation.
Paramount’s lawyers retreated against Trump’s arguments, and CBS journalists insisted that they did not distort Harris interview. Raw shots show that they were strictly transferred, although CBS has release its response using its most resistant sentence.
CBS said that the amendments were made to calm the president’s interview at the time.
Sources knowing that the members of the Board of Directors are aware that a huge settlement can be considered as a return to the president to move the merger of jumping on the finish line.
Amid the controversy, Trump’s dissatisfaction with CBS and “60 minutes” continued.
He was angry with two parts that were broadcast in April, stories about the war in Ukraine and Trump’s desire to include Greenland. Trump wrote on the social truth platform earlier this month that he wanted Brendan Car, appointed to chair the Federal Communications Committee, To “impose the maximum fines and punishment” on CBS.
Separately, after a long stop, FCC contacted Skydance last week to start the integration review process.
