An $8 billion merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global received regulatory approval Thursday from the Federal Communications Commission in a deal that has raised alarm about free speech and government intrusion into the media.

The FCC's approval, which was necessary for the deal to move forward, caps a long-running corporate saga over the fate of Paramount, which owns Paramount+, the Paramount Pictures movie and television studios, the CBS television network and CBS News and Stations. Paramount also owns Nickelodeon, BET, MTV, Comedy Central and other media brands.

The deal opens the door to major changes at CBS News, with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr saying, "Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly. It is time for a change.