Statement on Paramount Merger Bid

Today’s news that Warner Bros. Discovery has accepted a purchase bid from Paramount-Skydance is an alarming escalation in a consolidation crisis that threatens the entire entertainment industry, the democratic public it serves, and the First Amendment itself.

This deal would be catastrophic for an industry built on free expression, for the creative workers who power it, and for the consumers who depend on a free, independent media ecosystem. 

It would inflict irreparable, long-term damage on the creative engine and cultural backbone of this country and it would create severe economic fallout for the industry and consumers. When only a few corporations determine the media Americans consume, everybody pays: subscription prices rise, licensing and advertising costs soar, there’s less creative output and fewer opportunities to hear from diverse storytellers. 

And while the creative and economic harms are profound, the constitutional risks are even more dangerous. The current administration is exploiting merger reviews to stifle free expression and press freedom. When merger reviews are used as tools of political influence, the First Amendment becomes a bargaining chip. 

Make no mistake, this is not just a catastrophic business deal that will destroy our industry— it is also a constitutional crisis. 

And our collective response will not end here.