The U.S. Department of Justice has sent subpoenas in its investigation of Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The inquiries show the DOJ moving ahead with its probe into the $110 billion acquisition that would combine the two major studios, along with the companies’ streaming services and news operations. Hollywood and Wall Street are intensely interested in the high-stakes deal, which would bring together some of the entertainment industry’s most enduring franchises but deal a blow to film and television jobs.
The DOJ is seeking information on how the deal would affect studio output, content rights and competition among streaming services, the sources said. The DOJ is also asking how the acquisition could affect movie theaters, two of the sources said.
doesn’t it seem unlikely that the Trump DOJ is going to apply anti-trust laws to the acquisition he backed and benefits from, or is this just a shake-down?
It’s a shakedown as clear as day. Theyve been doing this since his last term. Someone gets investigated or targeted by MAGA, mysteriously Trump or his family get a nice wealthy donation or favor and then boom… Trump endorses and investigation is dropped. Thank you for your attention in this matter. Donald J Trump.
Doing a superficial investigation and report on the acquisition will cement it against challenge by states and future federal administrations.
Not that any Democratic administration has the balls to invoke Antitrust provisions in a material way (or, at least, a way courts won’t immediately block). But someone in TrumpWorld might be savvy enough to do enough ass-covering to avoid the tail risk.
All for show.
Nailed it.
Yeah I think matters like this might be best if you let the people vote on it. I’m pretty sure no one wants this. There are so many financial incentives for the people at the top and our own government that they couldn’t possibly be trusted to make fair decisions
The DOJ will use this review as leverage to get the media to bend even further to Trump.
