Washington, D.C. — More than two dozen advocacy groups representing millions of Americans are calling on state attorneys general to immediately investigate and use appropriate legal authorities to block Paramount Skydance Corp.’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
The groups represent a broad array of interests, including free speech, labor, government reform, grassroots advocacy, and voting rights. The list includes the Center for American Progress, American Economic Liberties Project, Common Cause, Democracy Defenders Fund, Center for Digital Democracy, Freedom of the Press Foundation, Indivisible, Public Knowledge, and the American Federation of Teachers, among others.
“The combined corporate behemoth would likely result in higher consumer costs from anti-competitive consolidation, layoffs of American workers, and a sharp reduction in consumers’ ability to access news and entertainment programming, streaming services, and other products,” the letter from the groups to state attorneys general says.
The letter notes that President Donald Trump has publicly inserted himself into merger negotiations, reportedly suggesting he supported Paramount’s acquisition bid because of political support from Paramount Chairman and CEO David Ellison and his billionaire father, Larry Ellison. It argues that even when federal antitrust regulators fail to act, “states have a critically important role to play in ensuring a competitive marketplace.”
The letter says the merger also raises serious First Amendment concerns, especially given speculation about how the merger would affect reporting at CNN. It cites reports that CBS News began to censor journalists’ news reporting to conform to President Trump’s preferred viewpoints after Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount.
“We urge you to immediately investigate this merger and take any and all appropriate legal action,” the letter says. “In the face of relentless corporate consolidation and rising prices, states have a critically important role to play in ensuring a competitive marketplace, even when federal antitrust regulators fail to act.”
Read the letter here.
For more information, or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].