By Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter.com, 6-10-26
All the talk about blocking Paramount’s $111-billion megadeal for Warner Bros. has mainly revolved around how the deal impacts competition and removes a buyer from the marketplace….
But it’s the news side of the equation that’s also at play when it comes to at least 10 states’ effort to halt David Ellison’s Hollywood advance in court. The argument goes something like this: Paramount’s editorial independence has been deeply compromised by Donald Trump, whose White House holds the keys for regulatory approval of the deal, and the studio is committed to reshaping the news landscape to his liking….
To that, Paramount has invoked First Amendment protections, arguing that it would be unconstitutional to block a merger based on speculation around how it would exercise editorial control. » Read More