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Ballard Partners has signed on to represent Paramount Global for regulatory and legislative issues affecting the media business.
The entertainment giant is in the midst of selling itself to Skydance Media for $8.4B. That deal, which includes the transfer of broadcast licenses, must be approved by Donald Trump’s Federal Communications Commission. Brendan Carr, whom Trump picked to chair the FCC, has said the Paramount/Skydance requires close scrutiny.
Trump also has sued Paramount Global’s “60 Minutes” program over an October interview that it conducted with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
He claimed 60 Minutes edited the piece to make Harris look good. CBS has filed a motion to discuss the case, and Trump’s team has until Jan. 24 to respond.
Paramount is reportedly discussing how it might settle the suit with the president.
Brian Ballard, who is a top Trump fund-raiser, handles the Paramount business.
Patrick Kilcur, who was executive VP-US government affairs at the Motion Picture Association, and a key aide to former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, backstops Ballard.
Flock Safety has hired Off Hill Strategies, a boutique lobby firm that boasts of its commitment to conservative principles.
Ballard Partners has signed South Korea’s SK Americas unit for representation on US semiconductor policies and developments.
Ballard Partners has signed to a represent the US unit of Rheinmetall, Germany’s biggest defense contractor, on Army procurement issues.
BGR Group signs on to provide lobbying and PR services for Terzo, an AI financial intelligence platform. Douglas Lute, chair of BGR’s international and defense practices, will join Terzo’s board of directors.
Avoq has landed Palantir Technologies, the controversial surveillance company founded by right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel, as a client.
