April 11 (Reuters) - Paramount Global ( PARAA ) disclosed

on Thursday that it plans to reduce its board to seven directors

from 11 currently amid reports that the entertainment giant

controlled by Shari Redstone was discussing a merger with

Skydance Media.

The company, in its proxy filing, did not propose the

election of board members Dawn Ostroff, a former Spotify

executive, Sony Entertainment ex-president Nicole Seligman,

Redstone attorney Rob Klieger and investment banker Frederick

Terrell.

Earlier this month, a source told Reuters that Paramount's

board had agreed to enter exclusive merger talks with Skydance

Media, which is led by CEO David Ellison, son of Oracle

co-founder Larry Ellison.

A deal would combine Paramount with Ellison's independent

media house that is behind films such as "Top Gun: Maverick" and

"Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One".