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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.
Anne Kierig, who was senior manager of public policy at Amazon, has joined the American Advertising Federation as VP-government affairs. She takes over for Clark Rector, who is retiring after a 37-year run at AAF.
TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, which was established in compliance with the executive order signed by President Trump, has hired Valcour LLC, which has close ties with his administration.
Ballard Partners has signed on gunmaker Sturm, Ruger & Co to advocate on behalf of Second Amendment issues.
Sakura Conservation Strategies has registered Japanese American Confinement Sites Consortium as a client.
Sachs Media has signed on to represent the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund to advocate for public policies proven to reduce tobacco use, which is the No. 1 cause of preventable deaths in the US and the rest of the world.
