Tag

Media Consolidation

All articles tagged with #media consolidation

business1 day ago•2 min saved

States move to halt Warner Bros.-Paramount mega-merger over competition fears

A coalition of about a dozen U.S. states led by California has filed suit to block the $110 billion Warner Bros.-Paramount merger, arguing it would stifle competition, raise prices, and give a few studios control over a large share of film and TV content; despite DOJ approval earlier, the states seek an injunction pending judicial review, warning that the deal could reduce bargaining power for theaters and networks and harm consumers.

via BBC|

#antitrust #business #media-consolidation

business24 days ago•5 min saved

Fox-Roku tie-up tightens billionaire control over how Americans access TV

A Fox-Roku deal worth about $22 billion, paired with David Ellison’s bid to merge Paramount with Warner Bros. Discovery, signals a shift toward billionaire-led control of how Americans access streaming content, giving Fox influence over distribution and discovery on Roku’s platform and raising alarms about concentrated gatekeeping and reduced media pluralism.

via Salon.com|

#business #ellison #fox

business26 days ago•17 min saved

Penske Media Forms PMX by Acquiring Vox Brands

Penske Media Corporation has acquired Vox Media’s portfolio of brands, including Eater, The Verge, SB Nation, Popsugar, The Dodo, Punch and Thrillist, to form PMX, the world’s largest digital publisher. Vox’s Ryan Pauley will join PMC as president of PMX Global and the Vox brands will operate autonomously under PMX. The deal expands PMX’s assets to include additional properties like Robb Report, Artforum, Sportico and more, and enhances its live events and first‑party data capabilities. Financial terms were not disclosed.

via Variety|

#business #digital-publishing #media-consolidation

business29 days ago•6 min saved

DOJ OKs Paramount-Warner Merger, Sparking Concerns Over Media Power

The DOJ approved Paramount's $111 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, potentially placing CBS News and CNN under the Ellison family's control and intensifying media consolidation. Critics warn the arrangement could distort news coverage to please the presidency and curb independent journalism, prompting calls for state AGs to challenge the deal amid ongoing concerns about concentration in the media landscape.

via Democracy Now!|

#antitrust #business #ellison-family

entertainment1 month ago•10 min saved

Sebastian Stan: Trump 2.0 Isn’t a Laughing Matter

Sebastian Stan told reporters in Cannes that Trump’s potential second term isn’t a laughing matter, weighing in on the biopic The Apprentice and the current political climate—censorship and media consolidation—while noting the film could stand the test of time as he promotes his new project Fjord.

via HuffPost|

#cannes #donald-trump #entertainment

business2 months ago•16 min saved

Diller: I’d Buy CNN Tonight If the Opportunity Arrived

Barry Diller told the WSJ at the Future of Everything summit that he would buy CNN tonight if the opportunity arose, arguing the network is ripe for innovation but would face a savage cost‑cutting process under Paramount’s deal with Warner Bros. Discovery; he also said he looked very deeply at Vox Media, which is in talks with James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems, and noted his upcoming rebranding of IAC as People Incorporated.

via The Hollywood Reporter|

#barry-diller #business #cnn

business3 months ago•18 min saved

Celebrities Unite Against Paramount-Warner Merger in Open Letter

Over 1,000 Hollywood figures sign an open letter opposing Paramount’s plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal would further concentrate the media landscape, reduce opportunities for creators, raise costs, and limit audience choice; regulators, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, are weighing action to block it.

via The Hollywood Reporter|

#business #hollywood-signatories #media-consolidation

entertainment3 months ago•481 min saved

Hacks’ Final Run Turns Self-Celebration into a Free-Speech Salvo

Hacks’ final season doubles down on defending free speech and industry critique, reuniting Deb and Ava for a comeback while skewering power and media consolidation, delivering its satire with a warmer, more earnest self-celebration that mirrors its critical acclaim.

via Vulture|

#deborah-vance #entertainment #free-speech

politics3 months ago•17 min saved

Fonda Spearheads DC Rally Defending Free Speech Amid Media Merger Fears

Jane Fonda led a Committee for the First Amendment rally near the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., criticizing Trump-era media mergers and warning that consolidation threatens free expression, independent journalism, and access to cultural content, with performers and journalists including Joan Baez and Jim Acosta in attendance.

via Deadline|

#first-amendment #jane-fonda #kennedy-center

business4 months ago•7 min saved

CNN and CBS News Brace for a Cross-Corp Newsroom Under Paramount-WBD Deal

Paramount's $111-billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery would put CNN and CBS News under a single corporate roof, triggering fears over leadership, editorial direction, and staffing as cost-cutting looms and union issues complicate a joint operation. Insiders warn the deal could reshuffle on-air talent and flagship programs while political dynamics surrounding the networks add further uncertainty.

via Los Angeles Times|

#business #cbs-news #cnn

business4 months ago•17 min saved

Banijay and All3Media Merge to Form Global Production Powerhouse

Banijay and RedBird IMI’s All3Media are merging to create a 50/50 global production banner with estimated 2024 revenues around $6.65 billion. Marco Bassetti will lead as CEO of the new group, Jane Turton will be deputy CEO, and Jeff Zucker will be chairman. The combined library and labels—including Banijay Rights’ tens of thousands of hours and All3Media’s Studio Lambert, The Traitors, Squid Game: The Challenge, and other properties—aim to strengthen scale amid ongoing industry consolidation, with closing expected by fall.

via Variety|

#all3media #banijay #business

business4 months ago•16 min saved

SAG-AFTRA Slams Nexstar’s Nationwide Local-News Layoffs

SAG-AFTRA is slamming Nexstar for sweeping local-news layoffs at stations such as KTLA, WGN and WPIX—eight cuts at WGN—arguing the moves threaten local reporting and highlight the dangers of media consolidation as Nexstar pursues a $6.2 billion Tegna merger; Nexstar says it won't comment on personnel issues and is taking steps to stay competitive. The union is negotiating multiple local contracts and vows to push for strong protections for journalists and the audiences who rely on them.

via The Hollywood Reporter|

#business #layoffs #local-news

business8 months ago•5 min saved

David Ellison's Paramount Pursuit and Warner Bros. Sale Developments

David Ellison is aggressively pursuing a takeover of Warner Bros Discovery with bids up to $23.50 per share, totaling around $93 billion, but his offers have been rejected. WBD is exploring sale options amid interest from other tech giants like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple, and is considering splitting into two companies. The potential merger with Paramount could lead to significant layoffs and industry consolidation, driven by the need for scale and high-value IP in the declining linear TV market.

via Variety|

#business #ellison #manda

business8 months ago•6 min saved

Paramount's Pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery Faces Rejection and Industry Uncertainty

Warner Bros. Discovery is exploring strategic options including a potential merger with Paramount, which would create a media giant combining major film, TV, and streaming assets, but the deal faces challenges and significant layoffs are expected regardless of the outcome.

via Variety|

#business #media-consolidation #merger

media9 months ago•5 min saved

Larry Ellison: The Billionaire Behind America’s Growing Media Empire

Paramount CEO David Ellison is aggressively reshaping the media landscape by appointing Bari Weiss to CBS News and considering acquisitions like Warner Bros. Discovery, backed by his father's wealth, aiming to create a new media empire that could significantly impact Hollywood's structure and employment, while also raising concerns about media consolidation and industry disruption.

via Business Insider|

#bari-weiss #david-ellison #media