The Writers Guild of America is vowing to block any potential merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount, labeling the prospect a "disaster" for writers and competition. The union's public opposition, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, sets the stage for a major regulatory battle against further media consolidation.
A disaster in the making: In a joint statement, the WGA East and West declared they will work with regulators to stop a deal. "Merger after merger in the media industry has harmed workers, diminished competition and free speech, and wasted hundreds of billions of dollars better invested in organic growth," the guild stated.
The WGA playbook: This opposition is a well-worn play for the WGA, which has a history of fighting industry-shaking mergers, including those of Comcast-NBCUniversal and Disney-Fox. The union argues such deals shrink the market for creative projects and concentrate creative control in the hands of a few media giants.
The WGA has drawn a clear battle line, ensuring any potential mega-merger between the two legacy studios will face a fierce, organized, and public fight. The WGA has a long history of protesting such deals, detailed in memos like "Broken Promises." The move comes at a time of dizzying industry consolidation, with suitor Paramount itself having just recently merged with Skydance. The fight could also have a political dimension, as some see Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison's political connections as a key advantage in securing regulatory approval.
