The unconditional clearance removes the primary federal regulatory hurdle standing between the two media giants and what would be one of the largest media combinations in history. Politico's report was corroborated by Newsmax and Quiver Quantitative, each also citing people familiar with the matter, though an official DOJ press release had not been published as of this writing.

By granting approval without requiring divestitures or behavioral remedies, regulators signaled they found no structural competition concerns significant enough to warrant intervention. The outcome is a meaningful victory for Paramount Skydance, which has spent months navigating regulatory scrutiny of a deal that would combine two of Hollywood's most storied entertainment franchises under a single corporate roof.

The path to clearance was not without friction. Prior to Friday's reported approval, Paramount Skydance publicly accused Netflix of attempting to "poison regulators and other stakeholders" against the Warner Bros. Discovery transaction — a sign of how intensely rival streaming platforms were tracking the deal's fate. A combined Paramount-Warner entity would represent a formidable competitor in both traditional and streaming media, making the merger's outcome a matter of direct competitive consequence for the broader industry.

Neither Paramount Skydance nor Warner Bros. Discovery had released on-record statements responding to the DOJ clearance at the time of publication, and a confirmed closing timeline has not been disclosed.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren was critical of the reported approval, saying it "terrible news" for the U.S. public as she called on state attorney generals to block the deal.

"This is terrible news for every American who doesn't want Trump-aligned billionaires to control what they watch and how much they pay," Warren said on X. "The Paramount-Warner Bros. deal has reeked of corruption and influence-peddling. This fight isn't over. State AGs must block this merger."

For the media sector, the deal's progress underscores a broader consolidation wave as legacy studios scramble to build the scale needed to compete with streaming giants. If the remaining regulatory steps proceed smoothly, the combined company would control an expansive portfolio spanning film studios, cable networks, and streaming platforms — reshaping the competitive landscape that Netflix, Disney, and Amazon have dominated in recent years."