U.S. networks face dilemma over whether to air Trump's election security speech
XLC•CBS, Paramount and Fox also in focus
At CBS, the takeover of Paramount PSKY.O by David Ellison, whose billionaire father Larry is a Trump ally, has roiled the newsroom and prompted the departure of senior staff from the news magazine "60 Minutes". Some employees have alleged political interference in editorial decisions, which the network has denied.
Ellison is now awaiting FCC approval for Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which could give him control of CNN, a network Trump has long criticized for what he says is unfair coverage. The U.S. Justice Department's Antitrust Division gave its blessing to the deal last month.
The conservative-leaning cable news network Fox News, owned by Rupert Murdoch, generally carries all of Trump's speeches but may also be wary of this one.
In 2023, the network had to pay out $787 million to settle a defamation suit over its airing of false claims about the 2020 election.
