We know that entertainment companies, like entertainment giant Paramount (PARA) are increasingly dependent on live sports to draw viewers. Thus, any change in sports can mean a shift in viewers, and revenues, for the relevant operation. That happened to Paramount recently, and the move did not sit well. Investors pulled back, sending shares down fractionally in the closing minutes of Friday’s trading session.
For those familiar with college football, you may already know the name Gary Danielson. Danielson is regarded as one of the biggest names around in college football analysis, and has been with CBS, a Paramount property, for the last 20 years. Danielson has been in television for nearly twice that time, a total of 36 years. With that in mind, it is likely little surprise that he announced his retirement after the 2025 season concludes.
Taking over for Danielson, meanwhile, will be Charles Davis, a veteran analyst with CBS, though perhaps not quite as veteran as Danielson. Davis will call the Big Ten games starting with the 2026 season. President and CEO of CBS Sports, David Berson, declared that Danielson “…is simply one of the greatest college football analysts ever.”
A Recap of the Paramount-Skydance Merger
Meanwhile, a recent report took a look at the increasingly contentious Paramount-Skydance merger, and why it currently “…remains in FCC purgatory.” The trouble for the merger itself could be traced back to several sources; the lawsuits from pension funds currently poised against it, the still-outstanding fishing expedition Mario Gabelli was looking to stage, and of course, an angry President.
But these reports focused on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and its role in holding back the merger floodgates. Much of that issue traces back to CBS, reports note, and that current Chairman Brendan Carr is not particularly pleased. The 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, which indeed seemed to have been edited, is a sticking point, and the FCC is currently evaluating whether that editing was sufficient to serve as a violation of “public interest rules” in place at the FCC. Carr believes that CBS has done little, if anything, to conclude the commission’s investigation.
Is Paramount Stock a Good Buy Right Now?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on PARA stock based on two Buys, six Holds and five Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 1.21% rally in its share price over the past year, the average PARA price target of $12.50 per share implies 7.94% upside potential.
