Paramount‘s antitrust commitments in the UK to secure approval for its $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery deal strengthens the hand of the 12 state attorneys general suing to block the merger.
That’s the view of Block the Merger, a creative industries coalition that has come together to campaign against the union between Paramount and Warner. The coalition has won the support of The Traitors host Alan Cumming, as well as industry groups including the Archival Producers Alliance and the International Documentary Association.
In a statement following the UK government’s decision to greenlight WarnerMount, Block the Merger said: “UK Secretary Nandy’s ability to obtain major concessions from Paramount lends powerful credibility to the case 12 state attorneys general have brought here in the U.S.
“If this merger required binding remedies even in the UK, where Paramount and Warner hold a far weaker market position and the CMA has grown reluctant to block big mergers, the dangers in the more concentrated U.S. market are unmistakable.”
Paramount has agreed to a “deed of covenant” with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. This includes a commitment not to combine linear channels with its streaming services and maintain the editorial independence of its news services and children’s networks.
The commitments, which come into effect once the transaction completes and will remain in force for five years, will ensure that Channel 5 News’ editorial direction remains entirely separate from CBS News and CNN International. Fair access to the CNN, CBS, and Channel 5 archives was also an undertaking.
Block the Merger said these were “encouraging” but not “the whole fight.” The group added: “Our position remains the same – the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger is a dangerous consolidation that will harm film, entertainment, and independent press in markets around the world. State attorneys general hold independent authority to enforce antitrust laws, and we are confident they will prevail at trial and fully block this merger.”
The U.S. lawsuit will go to trial in March 2027. Attorneys general, including California’s Rob Bonta, allege that the transaction stifles competition across wide-release theatrical film distribution, big-budget blockbusters, and basic cable television channel licensing.
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