Paramount-Skydance chief executive David Ellison has publicly defended his company's $110bn (£86bn) takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. In an op-ed published by The New York Times, Mr Ellison stated that opposition to the merger is based on an outdated view of Hollywood.
Mr Ellison rejected claims that the combined media giant would exert excessive market control or undermine newsroom independence. He insisted that news outlets like Paramount's CBS and Warner's CNN would remain non-partisan.
To address antitrust concerns, Mr Ellison highlighted that a merged Paramount-Warner would represent less than 20% of US television watch time, a figure that drops to approximately 13% when YouTube is included. He also committed to expanding traditional production, promising 30 theatrical films and 170 television series annually, supported by over $30bn in annual content investment.
The merger's progress in the US has been frozen due to legal challenges. In July, 12 state attorneys general, led by California's Rob Bonta, along with the Writers Guild of America, filed antitrust lawsuits. These lawsuits argue that the merger would violate the Clayton Act by reducing competition and harming opportunities for writers. Federal proceedings are currently on hold, with the trial scheduled for 2 March 2027.