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This $50 fitness band made ditching my smartwatch easier than I expected

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is available now for $55 on Amazon. It’s a solid fitness tracker with great battery life that covers the basics in a slim form factor. It might not fit everyone, and the entry-level tracking data lacks the deep, personalized insights you’ll find on more expensive devices. If […]

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is available now for $55 on Amazon.
  • It’s a solid fitness tracker with great battery life that covers the basics in a slim form factor.
  • It might not fit everyone, and the entry-level tracking data lacks the deep, personalized insights you’ll find on more expensive devices.

If you want all the features of a smartwatch but can’t commit to a big, bulky watch face, you might be interested in a smart band. Xiaomi’s ninth-generation popular fitness band has so many new features that it’s basically on par with any full-fledged smartwatch, just in a smaller, lighter form factor.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 features a compact design with a slim watch face and a bright, 1.62-inch AMOLED display that’s packed with almost all the health-tracking features you’d find on any other smartwatch, with fantastic battery life to boot.

Also: The best Android smartwatches you can buy: Expert tested

In fact, Xiaomi advertises this device as having up to 21 days of battery life on a single charge, although this number goes down based on how many metrics you monitor at once. That said, the battery life is still pretty fantastic, and even with everything turned on, I was able to get a little over a week of constant monitoring without having to charge it.

So how does the Smart Band 9 differ from a smartwatch? Well, the lines are a little blurred. Basically, it can do all the basic things any smartwatch can do but without the quality-of-life features found on higher-end smartwatches and without deeper, more personalized data insights. Xiaomi does have a line of smartwatches, after all, and naturally, there is some delineation between the feature sets.

The Smart Band 9 has the basics covered, though. It’s accurate at tracking most physical activities and comes with over 150+ sports modes, heart rate and blood oxygen tracking, stress tracking, and, of course, sleep tracking. Additionally, it pairs with your phone to support the most useful connectivity features, such as notifications for emails, texts, calls, etc. It does not have GPS, however, nor does it feature a mic or a speaker. 

Xiaomi Smart Band 9

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

The device also requires some manual tuning that other, more premium devices would probably recognize automatically. By default, many of the continuous monitoring features are switched off, and to get the most out of the device, you’ll need to manually turn on the features you want. 

The band coordinates with the Mi Fitness app for Android or iOS for the complete experience. The app is straightforward enough to cover the basics but isn’t overly comprehensive. All the previously mentioned tracking metrics are accessible in the app, which is clean and easy to navigate.

Also: This Galaxy smartwatch is the perfect entry point into fitness tech – and it’s on sale

The Smart Band 9 uses the Mi Fitness three-band rainbow design as its core daily tracking system. It shows your calories burned, steps taken, and daily movement. As you do all three of those things, the bands fill, marking your progress. This concept is used by all manner of wearables, but this one features one of the cleaner designs I’ve seen.

In fact, Mi Fitness is one of the more accessible apps for folks who aren’t well-versed in fitness tracking lingo or are new to the game. It does a good job of spacing out the data so as not to bombard you with numbers and metrics. For that reason, this would also make a great tracker for kids or teens.

Xiaomi says that the Smart Band 9 features a tracking sensor that is 16% more accurate than the previous version. Still, its accuracy sometimes strayed for me, particularly with the more complex metrics. For example, it doesn’t seem to catch when I wake up at night, even if I get out of bed.

Nevertheless, the sleep tracking is about on par with other smartwatches, providing a breakdown of how long you were in each sleep stage, as well as your average heart rate, blood oxygen level, and breathing rate (as long as you turn those features on). Its lightweight and thin form factor also makes it very easy to sleep with, so if wearing a chunky watch to bed feels weird to you, this might be a good option.

Also: How to buy Casio’s tiny digital watch for your finger in the US

The Smart Band 9 doesn’t have some of the deeper insights that more comprehensive sleep trackers like the Oura ring have, but it will interpret the basics for you and add the data to your overall Vitality Score. This number is the Mi Fitness’ holistic health assessment metric that looks at the last seven days’ worth of data to provide an overarching score based on your age, weight, and activity level.

Xiaomi makes some wearable accessories that connect with its smartwatches and smart bands to provide more accurate data. For example, the Running Clip for the Smart Band 9 is only $12 and clips to your shoe for deeper, more accurate tracking. You just switch the band into running mode to access run cadence, stride length, landing time, landing mode, and more.

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 running clip

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

Let’s break down some of the things I don’t love about the Smart Band 9. First, the fit is not exactly perfect. Because the device is so small, it tends to lose its optimal position on the wrist. There were multiple instances where I looked down, only to see the sensor light flashing on the bottom of the device, indicating it doesn’t have skin contact.

If you’re a lean person or have smaller wrists, the Smart Band 9 might have a little more trouble positioning itself and lose contact from time to time, especially if you’re moving around. The way around that is to just wear it very tight to your wrist, which may or may not work for you.

Also: This Android smartwatch undercuts what Samsung and Google offer – and it’s better in ways

Also, the screen is small. Navigating the menus is functional, but if you have big hands or trouble seeing the tiny 1.62-inch display, the Smart Band 9 might be a little too compact.

Xiaomi Smart Band 9

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

When I tested it out during a HIIT workout, the transition from moving around to the little display took some getting used to. Similarly, if you’re mid-run, it’s very difficult to navigate. This is a device you set up before running around.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is a great entry-level device that can do almost anything a smartwatch can do, just in a more basic form. If you’re looking for accurate, actionable insights across specific metrics, you’ll want to invest in a premium smartwatch. Still, the Smart Band 9 and the accompanying Mi Fitness app are well-designed and accessible, great for kids, teens, and folks just starting their fitness journeys. 

The device itself is small and thin, and because of that, might not fit well on certain people, and the display, while very bright, is about half the size of a smartwatch. Its small size makes it very easy to wear to bed for sleep tracking, and it provides the basic roundup of sleep tracking metrics.

If you’re looking for a wearable that can do most of the same things but has a proper watch face, check out the Amazfit Bip 5, which is currently on sale for $60.



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How to protect your 23andMe genetic data – 960 The Ref

Remember 23andMe? The company that gave customers saliva-based DNA testing kits to learn about their ancestry? Founded in 2006, the company also conducted health research and drug development. But it struggled to find a profitable business model and eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection back in March, raising concerns about the safety of customer […]

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Remember 23andMe? The company that gave customers saliva-based DNA testing kits to learn about their ancestry?

Founded in 2006, the company also conducted health research and drug development. But it struggled to find a profitable business model and eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection back in March, raising concerns about the safety of customer data.

Well, 27 states and the District of Columbia on Monday filed a lawsuit in bankruptcy court seeking to block the sale of the company’s archive of genetic data without customer consent. The lawsuit comes as a biotechnology company seeks court’s approval to buy the struggling firm.

If you were a customer of 23andMe, you’re probably wondering what is going on with your data. It turns out you do have options if you want to protect your genetic self.

What happened to 23andMe?

23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection back in March. Anne Wojcicki, who co-founded the company nearly two decades ago and served as its CEO stepped down. The San Francisco-based company said that it would look to sell “substantially all of its assets” through a court-approved reorganization plan.

Wojcicki intends to bid on 23andMe as the company pursues a sale through the bankruptcy process. In a statement on social media, Wojcicki said that she resigned as CEO to be “in the best position” as an independent bidder.

23andMe said that filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection helps facilitate a sale of the company, meaning that it’s seeking new ownership. The company said it wants to pull back on its real estate footprint and has asked the court to reject lease contracts in San Francisco and Sunnyvale, California, and elsewhere to help cut costs. But the company plans to keep operating during the process.

I used the service, is my DNA data safe?

In a post about the Chapter 11 process, 23andMe said its users’ privacy and data are important considerations in any transaction and that any buyer will be required to comply with applicable laws when it comes to how it treats customer data.

But experts note that laws have limits. For one, the U.S. has no federal privacy law and only about 20 states do.

There are also security concerns. For instance, the turmoil of bankruptcy and related job cuts could leave fewer employees to protect customers’ data against hackers. It wouldn’t be the first time — a 2023 data breach exposed the genetic data of nearly 7 million customers at 23andMe, which later agreed to pay $30 million in cash to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to protect customers whose personal information was exposed.

Experts note that DNA data is particularly sensitive — and thus valuable.

“At a fundamental biological level, this is you and only you,” said David Choffnes, a computer science professor at Northeastern University and executive director of its Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute. “If you have an email address that gets compromised, you can find another email provider and start using a new email address. And you’re pretty much able to move on with your life without problem. And you just can’t do that with your genetic code.”

23andMe says it does not share information with health insurance companies, employers or public databases without users’ consent and with law enforcement only if required by a valid legal process, such as a subpoena. Choffnes said while that’s good, it’s a fairly narrow set of categories.

“There’s still other things that they are allowed to do with that data, including, as they mentioned, provide cross context, behavioral or targeted advertising,” he said. “So, you know, in a sense, even if they aren’t sending your personal data to an advertiser, there’s a long line of research that identifies how third parties can re-identify you from de-identified data by looking for patterns in it. And so if they’re targeting you with advertisements, for example, based on some information that they have about your genetic data, there’s probably a way that other parties could piece together other information they have access to.”

How can I delete my data from 23andMe?

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an urgent consumer alert before 23andMe filed for bankruptcy — noting the company’s financial distress and reminding people they have the right to have their data deleted.

If you have a 23andMe account, you can delete your data by logging in and going to “settings” and scrolling to a section called “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page. Then, click “View,” download it if you want a copy then go to the “Delete Data” section and click “Permanently Delete Data.” 23andMe will email you to confirm and you will need to follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.

If you previously asked 23andMe to store your saliva sample and DNA, you can also ask that it be destroyed by going to your account settings and clicking on “Preferences.” And you can withdraw consent from third-party researchers to use your genetic data and sample under “Research and Product Consents.”

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.





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Sports Channel – The Recursive

Sports Channel – The Recursive | Page 1 SportsAll Channels FormatSponsoredIoTAdvertising ServicesHuman ResourcesSportsEvent ReportManufacturingDocumentary FilmSoftware DevelopmentExitcybersecurityMaritimeWork from home jobsM&APress ReleaseSaaSRegTechIncubatorsDefense TechMoney in MotionNFT CompaniesZero WasteElectric BikeDocumentary SeriesProduct InnovationSmart CarHR techFood TechMarketingCloudUrban InnovationFood StartupsRetailMetaverseTravel TechGovtechBank InnovationCrypto TraderInside The RecursiveBiotechnologyListicleEnergyWeb3MobilityInterviewSmart CitiesAgritechGuest ArticlesGen ZLegalDev TribePropTechGamingMarketing & SalesGuest ArticleE-commerceAnalysisEdtechCybersecurityCorporate InnovationDiasporaCareersR&D DestinationsSocial ImpactOthersBlockchainClimate TechWomen in TechNewsFuture of WorkHealthPodcastsFounder’s SchoolFintechEventsLeadershipDeep […]

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Sports Channel – The Recursive | Page 1














ReSpo.Vision Raises €4.2m to Redefine How Football Is Watched

By Ana Marija Kostanic

The newest deal comes from ReSpo.Vision based in Warsaw, Poland. 👯 Founder(s): Paweł Ostreicher (CEO & Co-founder), Mateusz Szala (COO), Łukasz Grad (Chief Data Scientist) 📅 Founding year: 2020 🏭 Industry: Sports tech 💥 Problem: Watching football hasn’t fundamentally evolved in decades, and high-quality tracking data is costly to capture, limiting advanced analysis to only top-tier clubs. 📣 Solution: ReSpo.Vision uses single-camera computer-vision and deep-learning to extract centimetre-accurate 3D tracking data…






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Eli Health raises $12 million Series A to expand continuous hormone monitoring services

Eli Health, a six-year-old health tech startup developing continuous hormone monitoring technology, has raised a $12 million Series A and launched its platform for cortisol measurement in beta. The Series A, which brings the company’s total funding to $20 million, was led by BDC Capital’s women-led-company-focused Thrive Venture Fund, and featured participation from several other […]

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Eli Health, a six-year-old health tech startup developing continuous hormone monitoring technology, has raised a $12 million Series A and launched its platform for cortisol measurement in beta. The Series A, which brings the company’s total funding to $20 million, was led by BDC Capital’s women-led-company-focused Thrive Venture Fund, and featured participation from several other firms including existing investor Muse Capital, whose founding partner Assia Grazioli-Venier is an Eli Health board member.

“This milestone is extremely meaningful, because to get to this point, it was close to six years of [research and development],” Eli Health co-founder and CEO Marina Pavlovic Rivas told SBJ. “For the first time, people are able to measure their hormones instantly, and this funding enables us to accelerate access to the product and to expand to other biomarkers.”

Founded in 2019 by Pavlovic Rivas and Thomas Cortina, life partners with respective backgrounds in data science and mechanical engineering/physics, Eli Health’s core innovation is in continuous hormone monitoring through saliva.

The company’s flagship product, the “Hormometer,” tests saliva for key hormones like cortisol (which cycles within the body daily) and progesterone (which cycles monthly) via a collection device — then, leveraging computer vision models to analyze the sample, returns results and AI-powered trends/recommendations to its mobile app through one’s phone camera.

Cortisol and progesterone levels have holistic health impacts, Pavlovic Rivas stresses, including on athletic performance and injury risk. And Eli Health’s innovative method of testing and monitoring, which is FDA-registered and third-party validated, will expand access to the data. Traditionally, blood or saliva-based hormone testing is done in-person at a lab, or through kits mailed to a lab, which can cost anywhere from $100-500 per test and take days-to-weeks to return results. Eli Health’s direct-to-consumer model costs $8 per test (minimum four tests per month) and produces results within minutes.

Pavlovic Rivas said Eli Health’s capacity to monitor both cortisol and progesterone are commercially ready, but the company is launching its cortisol monitoring first because of its broader applicability.

“One in three adults are affected by dysregulation when it comes to cortisol, and that’s true across gender, across ages,” Pavlovic Rivas said, noting that cortisol can impact areas including metabolic health, cardiovascular health, physical performance, cognitive performance and mental health. “We’re starting with that focus, and progesterone will follow shortly.”

Eli Health’s primary business focus is on its direct-to-consumer offering, but Pavlovic Rivas added the company is also currently piloting its technology with two sports teams. While declining to disclose the teams or their sports, she said one is a men’s team using Eli Health’s tech for cortisol monitoring, and one is a women’s team monitoring cortisol and progesterone levels in its players. Already, Pavlovic Rivas said she has seen teams adjust the intensity of training sessions based on the Hormometer’s real-time testing and monitoring capabilities.

“Having that ability to have the data instantly, instead of doing blood work once per season or a few times per season, it enables them to make instant decisions,” Pavlovic Rivas said, adding that, for cortisol, it would be normal to test twice per day (once in the morning and once in the evening), but in a sports team context that number can reach five or more to incorporate additional data points pre- and post-training. “This information would be impossible to get with delayed testing, because it takes at best a few days and, in most cases, a few weeks [to return results].”



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Rematch Expands to DFW with AI-Powered Sports Video App Targeting U.S. Youth Market

A tech company setting up shop in Fort Worth-Dallas believes its innovation could play a major role in the booming U.S. youth and amateur sports industries. Rematch, a sports video platform founded in France, is launching a U.S. app allowing users to capture, create, and share highlights instantly through AI-powered tools and technology. The U.S. […]

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A tech company setting up shop in Fort Worth-Dallas believes its innovation could play a major role in the booming U.S. youth and amateur sports industries.

Rematch, a sports video platform founded in France, is launching a U.S. app allowing users to capture, create, and share highlights instantly through AI-powered tools and technology.

The U.S. branch is based in Dallas-Fort Worth. Its CEO is Hanna Howard, who as a former TCU women’s assistant basketball coach is well-versed in the landscape of amateur sports. (Yes, it is true that in just the few short years Howard has been out of college basketball, collegiate sports have morphed into an amateur-professional hybrid.)

The company has other Texas connections, including majority owner Intervalle Capital, an Austin-based private equity firm.

Rematch has become the leading sports video platform in France with eye-popping metrics, including more than 30 million monthly views from a community of more than 600,000 users and followers.

That’s the kind of market traction that has executives enthusiastic about the American market, beginning in Fort Worth and Dallas.

“We happen to be located in one of the best sports markets in the country. My philosophy is let’s work out the kinks here in the DFW market. Let’s make sure that we’re really positioning ourselves in the U.S. market,” Howard said. “Our strategies need to be different from the French market. Our sports markets are different. Our target audience is different.

“We’re going to define the business here in this market so that when I feel like I’ve got a really strong grasp on what we’re doing and what we’re offering, it makes it much more scalable to activate other markets.”

Rematch was founded by Pierre Husson and a group of friends.

Husson, whom Howard described as a successful mid-level athlete at the semi-pro level, often struggled to find video content from his games and leagues.

“Sure, there’s the tactical camera that coaches use, but none of that really engaging content he knew was out there,” Howard said.

Recognizing that gap in the market, Husson, his friends, and an uncle began tossing around the idea of a highlight platform.

They ultimately agreed, Howard recalled: “We believe in the idea. Let’s create it.”

The platform’s edge is proprietary “auto-rewind” technology, which allows users to record highlights after they happen. Users can track action and hit record after a made basketball or goal. The technology will rewind 10 seconds and capture the moment. Those are banked and can be compiled for use in a text or social media post. Moments captured also live in the Rematch gallery. (And it’s easy to use. I can use it, so … .)

There is also an opportunity for teams to create sponsorship partnerships for use on the app.

The app is free. Howard said it is gaining momentum with more than 2,300 new users in May, the company’s best month since launching in January with basketball and soccer.

The launch of a premium app is close, Howard said. It will capture video in 4K and an AI enabled voice filter feature will remove unwanted conversations near the device, but it will maintain the environment audio of the cheers and game action.

Video rights fees in the U.S. are unique. Broadcast companies pay huge sums to professional sports leagues, college conferences, or teams in exchange for exclusive rights air games or highlights on television or digital platforms.

Rematch has secured partnerships with major European sports organizations and national federations for basketball, hockey, rugby, soccer, and volleyball in France. Nike also took notice of what was happening in La Belle France. The shoe and apparel giant, an exclusive partner in the French Football Federation, is an exclusive sponsor of all Rematch content.

Rematch US has recently partnered with the Denton Diablos semi-professional soccer club to capture in-game highlights and fan featured highlights of the game as a social media campaign, Howard reported recently. The company is also piloting a program with Major League Rugby to capture in-game highlights during the Houston SaberCats’ final match.

“Rugby is the next sport that we’ll be launching on Rematch and we’re planning an onsite activation at the MLR Championship in Rhode Island at the end of June,” she said.

The youth sports industry in the U.S. is Permian Basin-type stuff, with vast reserves and high economic potential. The youth sports industry was valued at $42.4 billion, according to WinterGreen Research. More than 45 million children participate in organized sports annually in the U.S., according to Aspen Institute.  

“I’ve had conversations with a gentleman who’s on the Texas TaeKwonDo board, and he said there is nothing in the martial arts space for visibility of the sport,” Howard said. “He said that parents are craving something like this for their kids and for their sports.

Howard previously was the COO of Fort Worth-based Valor, a specialty asset management company with expertise in providing mineral management and oil and gas outsourcing. A former basketball player at the University of Portland, she had assistant coaching stints at University of California at San Diego, Utah State, and Fresno State before rising to associate head coach for the TCU women’s basketball team.

Today, she is in a different industry but still building teams and programs.





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Spatial Computing Gets Its Own Media Company with the Launch of Remix Reality

Debuting at AWE USA 2025, Remix Reality covers the technologies powering the next wave of computing-immersive interfaces, physical AI, and machine perception LONG BEACH, Calif., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Remix Reality, a new independent media company built for the spatial computing era, officially launches today at AWE USA 2025. Founded by recognized pioneer […]

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Debuting at AWE USA 2025, Remix Reality covers the technologies powering the next wave of computing-immersive interfaces, physical AI, and machine perception

LONG BEACH, Calif., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Remix Reality, a new independent media company built for the spatial computing era, officially launches today at AWE USA 2025. Founded by recognized pioneer and author Tom Emrich, the publication is dedicated to covering the technologies powering the next wave of computing, including immersive interfaces, physical AI, simulated worlds, and perception systems. As digital experiences move from screens to space, Remix Reality aims to decode the platforms, people, and paradigm shifts redefining our lives.

“Spatial computing isn’t just another tech trend; it’s enabling machines to see, reimagining how humans connect, and redefining the very fabric of reality,” said Tom Emrich, founder and editor of Remix Reality. “As the technologies powering spatial computing have accelerated, it became clear there was a gap. While other media companies cover individual innovations, the bigger picture was missing. Remix Reality was created to connect the dots. We want to help readers see what’s happening, why it matters, and where it’s all going.”

Tom Emrich brings over a decade of experience in spatial computing, with deep roots at the intersection of media, technology, and community. He was one of the earliest journalists to cover wearable technology, launching a blog that was later acquired by a global media company. He went on to found We Are Wearables, one of North America’s first and largest wearable tech communities, which played a pivotal role in shaping the early ecosystem.

Emrich has been an active early-stage investor in AR startups. He has also held senior product leadership roles at Niantic and Meta, where he helped shape developer ecosystems to enable next-generation XR experiences.

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With Remix Reality, Emrich returns to his editorial roots, now with a broader perspective shaped by years in the industry as a journalist, product builder, investor, and ecosystem leader. This multifaceted view uniquely equips him to guide readers through the spatial computing era.

Remix Reality delivers content across five editorial pillars that define the spatial stack:

  • Physical AI – Robotics, autonomous vehicles, embodied agents
  • Immersive Interfaces – AR/VR headsets, mobile AR, spatial displays
  • Simulated Worlds – Game engines, digital twins, virtual environments
  • Perception Systems – Sensors, spatial AI, machine understanding
  • Society & Ethics – People, policy, cultural impact

Readers can explore content through:

  • Reality Briefs – Curated daily news powered by AI, guided by editorial oversight, and paired with “Tom’s Take” for expert perspective
  • Editorials – Original, journalist-written commentary and thought leadership from Emrich and guest contributors
  • Deep Dives – Long-form explainers crafted by the editorial team to unpack complex trends
  • Interviews – Candid, human-conducted conversations with the people shaping spatial computing

The publication is also launching with RealityGPT, Remix Reality’s custom conversational AI, available exclusively to premium subscribers. Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 and trained on the publication’s editorial archive, it delivers fast, contextual answers about the people, platforms, and trends shaping spatial computing.

“Remix Reality was built for this next wave of computing,” said Emrich. “We’re embracing the very technologies we cover-from AI to immersive formats-to rethink what storytelling can look and feel like in the spatial era. Readers can expect to see 3D, AR, and other immersive content woven directly into how we publish.”

Remix Reality debuts this week at AWE USA, the world’s #1 XR event, where Emrich is a featured speaker and returning Hall of Fame honoree. As part of the launch, all AWE speakers will receive six months of complimentary Insider access to Remix Reality, bundled with their copy of Emrich’s book, The Next Dimension, the official speaker gift at this year’s event.

Remix Reality is now available to readers around the world at www.remixreality.com.

About Remix Reality

Remix Reality, LLC is a future-forward media company built for the spatial computing era. We cover the convergence of the physical and digital worlds, tracking innovations in physical AI, immersive interfaces, simulated worlds, and perception systems. Our mission is to help make sense of this shift, cutting through hype to uncover what truly matters. We do this through original editorials, interviews, deep dives, and AI-powered briefings. Founded by recognized pioneer and author Tom Emrich, Remix Reality™ also offers strategic advisory services to companies shaping immersive technology. Start exploring at www.remixreality.com.

Media Contact

Tom Emrich

[email protected]

+1 (415) 990-2341



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NFL Watching Paramount Drama – Front Office Sports

The future of CBS Sports parent company Paramount is now arguably more muddled than ever, as an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media appears no nearer to closing, and the company is now shedding more employees.  Earlier this year, Paramount said it intended to close the large-scale deal with Skydance by the end of June. […]

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The future of CBS Sports parent company Paramount is now arguably more muddled than ever, as an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media appears no nearer to closing, and the company is now shedding more employees. 

Earlier this year, Paramount said it intended to close the large-scale deal with Skydance by the end of June. With less than three weeks to go before that target, the pact remains decidedly in limbo. Getting to closing requires Federal Communications Commission approval, and that assent is likely conflated with settling an ongoing legal battle between CBS News and U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Multiple reports have suggested a potential settlement under discussion that would see an eight-figure payout to Trump to resolve claims the network engaged in election interference by manipulating a 60 Minutes interview with Democratic challenger Kamala Harris. Former CBS Evening News anchor and 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, however, cautioned against such an agreement, even if it paved the way for the larger Skydance deal.

“It will be very damaging to CBS, to Paramount, to the reputation of those companies,” Pelley said on CNN. “I think many of the law firms that made deals with the White House are at this very moment regretting it. That doesn’t look like their finest hour.”

Paramount, meanwhile, said Tuesday that it will cut 3.5% of its domestic workforce, amounting to several hundred employees, in another round of layoffs, mirroring similar reductions recently at other major media companies such as Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. The latest round of staff cuts at Paramount also follows a 15% reduction last year.

“These changes are necessary to address the environment we are operating in and best position Paramount for success,” company co-CEOs George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy, and Brian Robbins wrote in a staff memo.

Could the NFL Back Out?

Though CBS Sports has a broad portfolio of programming, including its shared March Madness coverage with TNT Sports, its NFL rights are a bedrock of the company and will be in any future iteration of the network. In the near term, that’s particularly true as CBS shows the largest number of games involving the Chiefs, the league’s top viewership draw. 

The NFL, however, has a clause that would allow it to open up its rights deal with CBS if there is an ownership change. In the case of Skydance, there is little immediate concern about that partner coming in, as the league has a broad-based partnership that includes shared ownership of the studio’s sports vertical. 

Still, any ownership change would be reviewed, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said last summer.

“We’re obviously paying close attention to the process,” Goodell said then. “We know Skydance. They’ve done a terrific job with our relationship. So we’ll look at the structure of the deal. We’ll see how it impacts us. We’ll see how it impacts our business, and we’ll make the best decision for the NFL at that point.”

Skydance’s backers also include the billionaire Ellison family and RedBird Capital Partners.

Editors’ note: RedBird IMI, of which RedBird Capital Partners is a joint venture partner, is the majority owner of Front Office Sports.





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