High of the Ticker: Late Thursday, the Federal Communications Fee approved the long-planned merger between CBS Information’ mother or father firm, Paramount International, and Skydance Media. The nod from the FCC paves the best way for the approaching closure of the $8 billion deal. Previously few days, it was revealed that Skydance Media, by means of its lead legal professional, made several concessions to the FCC to acquire the inexperienced gentle for the merger. This contains committing to put in an ombudsman to assessment “complaints of bias or different issues” at CBS Information. The corporate additionally confirmed that Paramount eradicated its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

These concessions comply with the $16 million settlement reached by Paramount International with President Donald Trump over a lawsuit filed in 2024, which accused CBS Information of “deceitful” modifying throughout a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President and then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Famine concern: BBC Information—alongside different main information businesses together with the Related Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse—issued a joint statement addressing a possible famine scenario that might influence journalists overlaying the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Within the joint assertion, BBC Information mentioned the information organizations are “deeply involved” about journalists within the area who’re “going through the identical dire circumstances as these they’re overlaying.” The assertion additional added, “Journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in conflict zones. We’re deeply alarmed that the specter of hunger is now certainly one of them. We as soon as once more urge the Israeli authorities to permit journalists out and in of Gaza. It’s important that satisfactory meals provides attain the folks there.”

FCC objection: Conservative-leaning information community Newsmax filed an objection with the FCC Wednesday difficult any transfer that will weaken or get rid of the Horizontal Possession Cap. The submitting is in response to the FCC’s issuance of a public discover in June, in search of public touch upon whether or not to retain, revise, or put off the cap. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy mentioned within the submitting, “If networks like CBS, ABC, and NBC have been allowed to develop their attain unchecked, they’d have even much less incentive to supply programming that displays the values of native communities, notably these in America’s heartland.”

Second sports activities deal: Fox Nation struck its second live sports deal, turning into the unique broadcast companion for the inaugural matches of recent wrestling league Actual American Freestyle. Fox Information’ streaming service will broadcast the primary matchup Saturday, Aug. 30, from Cleveland. RAF was based by Eric Bischoff, Chad Bronstein, and WWE Corridor of Famer Hulk Hogan, who passed away Thursday, July 24.