DDF URGES U.K. COMPETITION AND MARKETS AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE PARAMOUNT-WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY MERGER OVER HARM TO INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE MARKET, FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
Press Release | June 3, 2026<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Paramount-WBD merger threatens to inflict deep, structural harm on the United Kingdom’s economy and its cultural heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF) filed a comment<\/a> with the United Kingdom\u2019s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) calling for an in-depth Phase II investigation into the pending Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The merger raises public interest concerns like a threat to free expression and media pluralism that the U.K. Secretary of State needs to investigate.<\/p>\n Written \u201con behalf of competitive markets for creative and journalistic work, as well as public interest in press freedom, media plurality, and interests,\u201d the in-depth white paper details the broad, international damage to competition and free speech the merger could cause. The consolidation would raise prices for consumers, reduce competition for the U.K.\u2019s creative rights, hurt wages in the industry, limit access to critical news archives used by U.K. journalists and filmmakers, and cut the number of projects that eventually make it to consumers. If approved, \u201cthe United Kingdom risks losing the distinctive voices and independent studios that make its film and television industry a crown jewel of its creative economy.\u201d<\/p>\n The concerns mirror those in the U.S., where vocal opposition to the merger from leaders across the film and entertainment industry<\/a>, independent media<\/a>, and citizen action groups is growing, urging state attorneys general to take action while federal regulators appear unwilling to investigate the transaction.<\/p>\n Read the comment here<\/a>.<\/p>\n # # \u00a0#<\/p>\n