A federal judge on Tuesday approved telecommunications giant AT&T's $85 billion purchase of Time Warner, rejecting objections by the US Justice Department and setting up what analysts expect to be a spurt of deals in the US media sector. The Justice Department had pressured both companies to sell some major parts to get government approval. The companies rejected the demand, and the Justice Department filed suit in November to block the deal. In addition to CNN, Time Warner owns TV networks HBO, TBS and TNT as well as Warner Brothers Entertainment and DC Comics. But the judge discouraged the government from asking him to put his ruling on hold pending appeal.