Paramount had said it expected to close the $8.4 billion merger in the first half of 2025. But the first half of the year came and went, and the merger remained under review by the FCC and its chair Brendan Carr, who had been appointed to the role earlier this year by President Trump.

Paramount Global (PARA.O) said on Friday it expects to complete its merger with Skydance Media by August 7, following government approval for the $8.4 billion deal.

"The media industry across this country needs a course correction."

“They made commitments to address bias and restore fact-based reporting. I think that’s so important,” Carr told Newsmax’s Greg Kelly on his show Thursday night.