The US government has approved the takeover of Hollywood veteran Warner Bros Discovery by its rival Paramount without imposing any conditions.
The Department of Justice concluded that the merger would not harm competition or US consumers – either in the TV and streaming business or in film production.
Competition reviews are still ongoing in several US states as well as outside the United States, including in Europe.
Originally, Netflix struck a deal last year to acquire Warner Bros Discovery's streaming and studio business. That agreement was then upended by Paramount's higher bids for the entire Warner Bros Discovery company, including television channels such as CNN. The deal is now worth around $111 billion.
Critics in the US fear that CNN could lose its editorial independence under the ownership of Paramount, which is run by film producer David Ellison - the son of software billionaire Larry Ellison, who is a supporter of US President Donald Trump.
Trump said on several occasions that it was particularly important to him that the news channel, which often reports critically on him, also changes hands in a Warner Bros Discovery deal.
The newsroom of Paramount-owned CBS has stood out for its more favourable coverage of Trump’s administration following the takeover by the Ellison family. Several correspondents on the popular "60 Minutes" current affairs programme were dismissed, some of whom complained of political pressure.
Warner Bros Discovery is known for the DC superhero universe featuring Superman and Batman, film franchises such as Harry Potter, and a strong streaming business based on the premium TV channel HBO.
