UK Threatens to Intervene in Paramount’s $110 Billion Warner Bros Discovery Deal
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 30
UK Threatens to Intervene in Paramount’s $110 Billion Warner Bros Discovery Deal
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 30
Summary
Lisa Nandy told parliament she is minded to intervene in Paramount’s proposed $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros Discovery on UK public-interest grounds.
The culture minister said the concern is media plurality—both a sufficient range of news views and enough separate controllers of media services serving UK audiences.
The merger would combine Paramount and HBO Max, Channel 5, TNT Sports and major film and TV franchises, widening the deal’s reach across streaming, broadcasting and studios.
The UK competition watchdog already opened an investigation earlier this month, even though the US Department of Justice has approved the transaction.
Paramount expects the deal to close by September, but a UK intervention could complicate a takeover involving owners tied to the Ellison family, allies of Donald Trump.