UK CMA clears Paramount-Warner Bros £85bn merger

Published Aug 6, 12:42 PM UTC

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared the £85bn merger of Hollywood studios Paramount and Warner Bros, concluding it does not pose a threat to competition in the UK. The watchdog opened its inquiry on 9 June after Warner Bros' UK revenues exceeded £100m. The CMA determined that while the merged entity would become the UK's largest theatrical film distributor, it would still face strong competition from Sony, Universal, Disney, and independent providers. Concerns about the merger of children's TV channels and streaming platforms (Paramount+, HBO Max, Discovery+) were dismissed due to declining demand for paid children's TV and a crowded UK streaming market dominated by Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy had requested the probe to ensure the deal did not stifle media diversity. The decision avoids a phase two investigation, marking a contrast to the CMA's 2023 block of Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition.