Hollywood Workers Denounce $111 Billion Paramount-WBD Merger as State AGs Ready Block Suit
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jun 7
Hollywood Workers Denounce $111 Billion Paramount-WBD Merger as State AGs Ready Block Suit
3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jun 7
Summary
$111 billion is the size of the proposed Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. deal that writers, actors, crew members and small businesses attacked at a Beverly Hills town hall, with several calling it a threat to Hollywood’s survival.
Workers said the merger would likely trigger thousands of layoffs, remove a major buyer for projects and deepen an industry downturn already worsened by the pandemic, the writers' strike and earlier consolidation.
California, New York and other state attorneys general are preparing a lawsuit to block the transaction, and former FTC commissioner Alvaro Bedoya told attendees the case could still be won despite widespread pessimism in the room.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez and union-linked speakers urged workers to pressure lawmakers, share personal stories and organize publicly, while Paramount argued the deal would expand consumer choice and help creators compete with Netflix.
The backlash comes as Paramount Skydance is already under scrutiny over upheaval at CBS News and 60 Minutes, sharpening fears about how new ownership could reshape jobs and editorial independence.
With thousands of jobs at risk, can this Hollywood mega-merger save the industry or will it accelerate its decline?
As foreign funds back Hollywood's biggest deal, who will really control the stories America tells the world?
Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery $110 Billion Merger: Legal Battles, Industry Upheaval, and the Future of Hollywood
Overview
The proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is under intense legal and regulatory scrutiny, with challenges arising from both U.S. and international authorities. Plaintiffs have accused Paramount of political interference, specifically alleging that CEO David Ellison offered assurances to the Trump administration about changes to CNN, raising concerns about media independence. Paramount’s lawyers have countered these claims, insisting CNN will remain editorially independent. These disputes highlight broader worries about political influence over news organizations and have prompted questions from federal and state regulators about the public interest, making the deal’s future uncertain.