After a long, complicated slog toward Thursday’s FCC approval, Paramount Global and Skydance Media will now face a number of tricky questions in becoming one company. While the $8 billion-plus transaction will need a few more days to become official,

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In a statement accompanying the deal's approval, Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr hailed the merger as an opportunity to bring more balance to the “once-storied” CBS network. “Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly. It is time for a change," Carr said.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez has issued a scathing statement of dissent following the approval of the Paramount and Skydance Media deal on Thursday, noting the merger marks a “direct violation of the first amendment.”

Skydance Media has made additional promises to the FCC in an effort to get approval for its $8 billion merger with Paramount Global.

Skydance CEO David Ellison told the FCC he wants “American storytelling” at Paramount while touting a new, “unbiased” editorial direction for CBS News.