The FCC deferred its ruling on Turner’s bid for CBS.

The Federal Communications Commission said it will not decide by Monday whether to consent to Atlanta television entrepreneur Ted Turner’s takeover bid for CBS, as Turner had requested to set his bid on equal footing with CBS’ tender offer for 21% of its own stock. The agency cited the “numerous” petitions in opposition to Turner and its own plans for a hearing on the matter Aug. 1-2. But it said it would render a decision “at the earliest possible date” after that. The FCC also gave CBS until July 17 to respond to Turner’s request to allow a trustee to begin accumulating CBS stock on his behalf.