Regulatory pressure and political alignment are now influencing programming stability, deal viability, and advertiser confidence one year into Trump's second presidency.

Paramount is betting on creator credibility to rebuild trust in mainstream news. The company’s $150 million acquisition of The Free Press brings its founder, Bari Weiss, to CBS News as editor-in-chief—an unprecedented crossover between creator-led media and legacy broadcasting. Weiss’s Substack-born outlet, with 1.5 million subscribers, will remain independent while lending its audience trust to Paramount’s broader news portfolio. The move reflects a growing convergence between individual-led journalism and traditional networks struggling to regain public confidence. Success will hinge on whether CBS and The Free Press can balance editorial independence with corporate oversight while preserving the authenticity audiences value most.

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards underscored streaming’s dominance in television, with HBO Max, Apple TV+, and Netflix sweeping major categories. Traditional TV was largely absent from the spotlight, with The Late Show among the few exceptions. The ceremony’s cross-platform broadcast—CBS, Paramount+, Showtime, Hulu—reflected shifting consumption habits, as Emmys remain culturally relevant even as streaming platforms cement their awards clout.

Warner Bros. Discovery shares spiked more than 30% after reports that Paramount Skydance is preparing a majority-cash takeover bid backed by Larry and David Ellison. The deal would fold WBD’s studios, HBO, DC, and streaming business into Paramount Skydance’s assets, which already include CBS, Paramount Pictures, and Paramount+. A merger would unite some of the world’s most valuable IP, creating a rival to Disney and Netflix. Investors cheered the news, lifting both companies’ stocks, though regulators are expected to scrutinize the transaction. If approved, the deal could reshape Hollywood’s power structure amid linear TV’s decline and streaming’s consolidation race.

The news: Paramount struck a $7.7 billion, 7-year agreement with UFC in its first big move after closing its merger with Skydance. The deal will see all 43 live annual UFC events streamed exclusively in the US on Paramount+, while select UFC events will be simultaneously aired on CBS. Our take: With its UFC deal, Paramount is taking the first step toward regaining audience share and ad spend post-Skydance merger, banking on live sports’ steady draw for viewers and marketers.

The news: Despite strides in streaming, linear TV still maintains an 86% share of overall ad impressions—nearly 17 billion daily impressions, per iSpot.tv. iSpot estimates that linear TV grew 3.3% in overall ad spend in the first sixth months of 2025, reaching $21.9 billion. Our take: While linear ads may lag behind the precision of CTV, they still command massive reach that drives results. Millions of viewers still watch live TV, preserving linear’s ad potential. A successful ad strategy will tap into its enduring influence while gradually allocating spend toward CTV to align with shifting viewing habits.

The news: Skydance Media’s $8 billion Paramount acquisition has been approved by the FCC, capping months of stalled negotiations and political controversy. The FCC approved the acquisition, which includes Paramount Pictures, CBS, and Nickelodeon, in a 2-1 vote. Our take: While the Paramount-Skydance merger could raise questions around editorial perception and brand safety, it offers a rare opportunity to reset a legacy media giant and reposition it for mass reach.

The news: CBS is ending “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” next year, an announcement the titular host made during taping for his Thursday show, sparking controversy and speculation. The move came days after Colbert criticized CBS parent company Paramount on air, saying it paid a “big fat bribe” when settling a lawsuit with Trump worth $16 million. Our take: Though politics and Paramount’s sink-or-swim pending merger may have influenced the swiftness of “The Late Show” cancellation, the ultimate cause likely boils down to the traditional TV model floundering.

The news: Paramount has settled a lawsuit with Donald Trump after the president sued the company following a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris that he argued contained “deceptive doctoring,” the company announced Tuesday. Sources cited by The Hollywood Reporter claim the lawsuit posed a threat to Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance, which will require the Trump administration’s approval. Our take: While the settlement could pave the way for Paramount and Skydance’s merger, it raises questions about the future of media companies who are perceived as holding a liberal bias—and concerns about increasing censorship in the current political environment.

NIL fuels March Madness ad boom: College athletes are reshaping brand strategy as ad inventory sells out and real-time deals surge.

Paramount’s streaming growth offsets legacy TV decline: Streaming revenues surge, but ad revenue from linear TV continued to decline, highlighting the company’s shifting priorities.

VideoAmp could gain an edge in Paramount, Nielsen fallout: Though Nielsen has weathered tough Upfront seasons, its latest dispute could deal a major blow.

Most subscription streaming services offer ad-free and ad-supported plans. After Amazon Prime Video introduced its ad plan in January, Apple TV+ became the biggest advertising holdout among streamers. Advertising holdouts have gradually accepted commercial breaks in their programming.

Politics will buoy linear TV ad spending this year, but allocations will continue to shift toward streaming options that keep gaining ad-supported viewers.

Unaffordable rates have caused a spike in home sales and plans to leave the state.