Shares of Paramount are set to open higher after the FCC approval its merger but amid ongoing uncertainty about its strategic plans under Skydance Media.

With this week’s FCC approval, the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media is expected to be completed in the coming weeks at a value of $8 billion. The question for the new company is whether the psychic cost is much higher.

Upon the deal’s closing, Skydance and its financial partners are set inject $1.5 billion in cash into Paramount. However, that’s intended to go toward reducing Paramount’s long-term debt ($14.16 billion as of Q1 of 2025) to help stabilize its balance sheet.

Federal government regulators approve an $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance. Jerome Powell pushes back during Donald Trump’s visit to the Federal Reserve’s headquarters. And the woman behind the viral “Jet2 holiday” soundbite is surprised at its popularity.

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.”

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