But some union leaders seemed to seek to toe the line. The leaders of SAG-AFTRA, which represents approximately 160,000 actors, acknowledged that the settlement “addresses some of our deep concerns about production levels and investment in U.S. production” while also wagging a finger at Paramount.
“We hope that the process of engaging with the attorneys general has impressed upon them the fact that in addition to collective bargaining, our members rely on the law to help protect our interests,” the union’s statement said. “These are the lowest standards that our employers must meet.”
Others were more downbeat and direct.
In one striking example, Connecticut’s attorney general, William Tong, a Democrat leading one of the states that joined the antitrust lawsuit, said in a statement that he had sought in particular to “protect the editorial independence of CNN and CBS News.” Paramount agreed, as part of the settlement, to establish a board of journalists to ensure the editorial independence of the two news organizations. But Mr. Tong said that “Connecticut wanted and demanded full divestiture of CNN and CBS News.”
“I am deeply disappointed that we could not do more,” he added.
Seth Stern, the chief of advocacy for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, went further, saying in a statement that “a Paramount-appointed editorial independence board for CNN and CBS is worthless.”
And the advocacy organization Free Press, which opposes media consolidation, called out Mr. Bonta, who it said “went back on his promise to enforce the law and protect consumers and workers.”
“It’s a sad day for all of us who have been opposing this merger because it will cut jobs and raise prices, all as it consolidates the media even more to enable authoritarians,” Jessica J. González, co-chief executive of the nonprofit, said in its statement. “Based on all reports, this weak deal contains nothing but unenforceable, empty Paramount promises.”
Shawn Hubler, Benjamin Mullin and David McCabe contributed reporting.