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Paramount Warner Bros Merger

All articles tagged with #paramount warner bros merger

Sally Field Sets Age Record at Emmys, Uses Speech to Criticize Media Mergers
awards1 month ago

Sally Field Sets Age Record at Emmys, Uses Speech to Criticize Media Mergers

Sally Field won her fourth Emmy for lead actress in a limited series or TV movie for her role in 'Remarkably Bright Creatures,' becoming the oldest winner in the category at age 79. During her acceptance speech, she praised the arts community and warned against the silencing of voices through corporate mergers, specifically referencing the pending Paramount-Warner Bros. deal. She also highlighted the film's Canadian production and thanked her co-stars and crew.

Clooney Backs Ruffalo, Questions Paramount-WBD Deal at Venice
entertainment1 month ago

Clooney Backs Ruffalo, Questions Paramount-WBD Deal at Venice

George Clooney defended Mark Ruffalo’s right to criticize the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger and expressed skepticism about the deal’s financial logic during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival. While accepting a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, Clooney also discussed AI’s impact on jobs, the state of journalism, and his decision to pause directing due to fatherhood.

170 Jewish Figures Sign Open Letter Defending Ruffalo Against Antisemitism Accusations
entertainment1 month ago

170 Jewish Figures Sign Open Letter Defending Ruffalo Against Antisemitism Accusations

More than 170 Jewish artists, writers, and faith leaders have signed an open letter defending actor Mark Ruffalo against antisemitism accusations from Paramount. The dispute stems from Ruffalo’s August 21 social media post criticizing the $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, linking the Ellison family’s Oracle business to Israel’s military in Gaza. Paramount labeled his comments 'antisemitic tropes,' while the signatories, including Joel Coen and Todd Haynes, argue that criticizing corporate consolidation and military ties is a Jewish ethical duty, not hate speech.

Schur Warns Paramount-WBD Megamerger Could Endanger Writers
entertainment1 month ago

Schur Warns Paramount-WBD Megamerger Could Endanger Writers

Comedy writer Mike Schur argues megamergers like Paramount-Warner Bros shrink competition, reduce the number of buyers for content, and erode writers’ leverage, risking thousands of jobs and a narrower creative landscape; he supports the WGA’s lawsuit to block the deal and contends that consolidation mirrors Disney-Fox, underscoring the need for antitrust action to protect workers and viewers.

Ellison Proposes 30-Title Pact for Theaters in Paramount‑WBD Merger Talks
business2 months ago

Ellison Proposes 30-Title Pact for Theaters in Paramount‑WBD Merger Talks

David Ellison is reportedly offering AMC and Regal three-year, contractually enforceable commitments to guarantee a 30-film annual slate for the Paramount‑WBD merger, including a 45-day exclusive theatrical window and a 90-day streaming moratorium, with penalties for noncompliance. The move aims to counter antitrust concerns in the merger and curb hoarding of output for Paramount+/HBO Max, while Paramount signals willingness to put the pledge in writing; however, industry observers note that more titles don’t guarantee bigger profits, and Paramount’s recent results show pressure on theatrical revenue, leaving the plan uncertain and contingent on the merger timeline.

Ari Emanuel Slams States’ Antitrust Push, Warning It Could Destroy Hollywood Competition
business2 months ago

Ari Emanuel Slams States’ Antitrust Push, Warning It Could Destroy Hollywood Competition

Ari Emanuel pens a Wall Street Journal op-ed defending Paramount’s Warner Bros. Discovery merger and blasting the multistate antitrust suit as “trash,” arguing it would undermine competition by ignoring growing rivals like Amazon MGM, Netflix, and Lionsgate. He warns the case could fatally harm Hollywood jobs and creative investment, notes Paramount‑WBD paused the deal amid litigation, and argues the merged entity’s proposed commitments would still leave it a competitive player. Emanuel urges state AGs to drop the case and let competition play out on the merits.

Stars urge UK action to block Paramount-Warner mega-merger
business2 months ago

Stars urge UK action to block Paramount-Warner mega-merger

Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming, and Benedict Wong wrote a Guardian op-ed warning that the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger would shrink storytelling avenues, threaten thousands of jobs, and centralize media power (including Channel 5 and CNN International). They urge UK government intervention, praising Lisa Nandy, and warn that without blocking the deal the industry and public would be harmed; the merger faces US opposition and has been delayed until after an antitrust trial.

Celebrities Press UK to Block Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
entertainment2 months ago

Celebrities Press UK to Block Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger

Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong urge UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene and block the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, warning it would harm UK film/TV, cause redundancies and fewer productions, and threaten public access to cultural archives; Nandy is reportedly minded to intervene as the CMA reviews the deal, while the European Commission approved it with conditions and US antitrust scrutiny continues.

Hollywood Stars Urge UK Intervention in Paramount-WB Merger
business2 months ago

Hollywood Stars Urge UK Intervention in Paramount-WB Merger

Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong published an op-ed urging the UK to block the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger, warning it could harm British film crews, independent financing and public access to culture; with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy signaling potential intervention, the discussion sits amid EU backing and U.S. antitrust lawsuits that Critics say could shrink jobs and creative diversity in the industry.

Hollywood Stars Urge UK to Halt Paramount-Warner Merger Over Public-Interest Risks
entertainment2 months ago

Hollywood Stars Urge UK to Halt Paramount-Warner Merger Over Public-Interest Risks

Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming, and Benedict Wong co-wrote an op-ed urging the UK to block Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros., warning the mega-deal could harm UK film and TV workers, independent financing, and Channel 5. They align with culture secretary Lisa Nandy’s stated review and point to prior antitrust actions in the US and EU oversight as context for protecting the public interest from consolidation and job losses across the British media landscape.

Antitrust Stakes Rise as States Challenge Paramount-WBD Megamerger
business2 months ago

Antitrust Stakes Rise as States Challenge Paramount-WBD Megamerger

Twelve state attorneys general have sued to block Paramount’s planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal would lessen competition in basic cable, tentpole theatrical releases, and wide-release distribution. A temporary restraining order keeps the merger on pause through Aug. 17, with a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for Aug. 3. Paramount dismisses the suit as weak and maintains the merger is pro-competitive and necessary to compete with streaming giants, while regulatory wins abroad bolster its stance. The case unfolds amid other related lawsuits and a potential settlement that would likely involve structural remedies; the merger agreement could expire in March 2027 without a timely close.

Hollywood mobilizes to block Paramount‑Warner merger as signatures top 4,000
entertainment6 months ago

Hollywood mobilizes to block Paramount‑Warner merger as signatures top 4,000

Hollywood figures including Robert De Niro, Sofia Coppola, and Holly Hunter signed an open letter organized by the Writers Guild of America urging regulators to block the Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The campaign has grown to well over 4,000 signatories from the film/TV industry, warning that consolidation could reduce competition, cost audiences more, and shrink opportunities for creators. Protests are planned in New York and Washington as regulators review the deal, which still faces antitrust scrutiny and potential state lawsuits.

CinemaCon Alarm: Merger Between Paramount and WB Could Concentrate Market Power
business6 months ago

CinemaCon Alarm: Merger Between Paramount and WB Could Concentrate Market Power

At CinemaCon, Cinema United CEO Michael O’Leary warned that the Paramount-Warner Bros merger could concentrate market power among a few distributors, risking fewer films and weaker exhibition, as the industry pushes for longer theatrical windows (around 45–60 days) to sustain cinemas; regulators and notable filmmakers have voiced concerns about the deal.