Regulators will look at the merger of Fairfax Media and the Nine Network but it is unlikely to face any hurdles, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says.
The former journalist welcomed the merger of the two historic companies, but said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will examine it.
"I think bringing them together will strengthen both of them," Mr Turnbull told LAFM radio in Tasmania on Thursday.
"It will have to go through all the ACCC and all of those matters. But I understand the party's expected not to face any regulatory hurdles."
The deal was made possible due to media ownership law changes introduced in 2017, which now allow one company to own television, print and radio outlets in the same city.
"To be frank, I welcome the announcement," Mr Turnbull said.
"Fairfax is a great Australian company, newspaper company. The Nine Network of course is the first television station to be on air."
The prime minister, who worked for the Nine Network as a journalist and a lawyer, said the two companies were in a "very tough and competitive" business environment.
"The arrival of all of the online news services has made the media so much more competitive than it used to be," Mr Turnbull said.
"I think bringing them together enables two strong Australian brands, with great, long - very long - traditions, to be able to be more secure."
Fairfax also owns a significant number of regional newspapers due to a previous merger with Rural Press, and Mr Turnbull said he expected regional outlets not to be affected.
