Hollywood-Megadeal: Paramount auf Weg zu Warner-Kauf nach Deal mit Bundesstaaten

Paramount Entertainment has overcome a key obstacle in its pursuit to acquire Warner Brothers, following a deal with several U.S. states. The agreement comes after the states blocked a $110 billion deal with a lawsuit, agreeing to allow the merged company to invest more money in the U.S., particularly in Hollywood. California Attorney General Rob Bonta confirmed a new editorial oversight committee was agreed upon to ensure the independence of Paramount's and CBS News' news operations.

Paramount has also pledged to release at least 30 films per year in theaters for the first two years post-fusion, with 32 films expected in the following three years. According to Bloomberg, the Screenwriters Guild has dropped its lawsuit against the Warner takeover after Paramount agreed to fund a $17.5 million health fund for the writers.

Time is of the essence for Paramount, as the state-led lawsuit threatened the company's relocation from California if an agreement wasn't reached. The deadline for Paramount to pay a daily fee of $7 million to Warner shareholders, in addition to the purchase price, starts from October if the takeover isn't completed. The takeover of CNN, a CNN rival, has been particularly contentious, with the network often critical of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Larry Ellison, the father of CNN's CEO David Ellison, is known for supporting Trump, while CBS, which will join Paramount in the Warner deal, reportedly promised a more favorable tone towards the President and his administration. Critics of the Warner deal warned that CNN may lose editorial independence under Ellison's control. The new oversight committee will consist only of journalists and remain closed to managers and shareholders, Bloomberg reported.

Four states - New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Minnesota - initially opposed the Paramount agreement but have since dropped their opposition after Paramount and California reached an agreement, according to an informed source. The U.S. government approved the billion-dollar deal without conditions, assessing that the consolidation would not harm competition or U.S. consumers in TV, streaming, or film production.

The EU Commission approved the takeover with the condition that Paramount withdraw from the joint distribution of films in European cinemas with Universal Pictures. Paramount had already agreed to acquire Netflix's streaming and studio businesses last year, but the company held out for a higher bid for the entire Warner Bros. Discovery, including CNN and other broadcasting assets.