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Entertainment and Sports LawRegulationMergers and AcquisitionsEntertainment Law & FinanceFeatures

FCC Regulatory Issues in Today’s M&A Media World

By Barry Skidelsky
October 31, 2025

We are in a frenzied time for merger and acquisition (M&A) activities for companies in the entertainment and communications industries. These are intricate endeavors, often involving fast-paced negotiations, complex due diligence and the navigation of multiple regulatory frameworks. Among these, compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations represents a significant and frequently underestimated challenge in deals involving companies with FCC authorizations.

Failure to conduct early and thorough FCC related due diligence or to timely secure appropriate prior regulatory approvals can materially impact the structure, value, and timing of an M&A deal or other corporate transaction, including equity and debt financing rounds. In some cases, these oversights can also result in substantial financial penalties, stall or even collapse the entire deal.

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