The entertainment industry has watched in apprehension as the future of Warner Bros. Discovery remains uncertain, with the Hollywood institution rejecting multiple bids from Paramount, while other companies remain interested in CEO David Zaslav’s assets. Now, even a U.S. senator has weighed in on the matter, warning about how this acquisition could affect consumers.
Warner Bros. confirmed that it is officially for sale on October 31, with Netflix and Comcast reportedly also interested. Some have already expressed their concerns about what a Warner Bros. and Paramount merger would mean for Hollywood, potentially resulting in layoffs and a decrease in the diversity of new content under a massive new entertainment corporation.
Now, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has shared via X her own concerns about Warner Bros.’ possible sale. Warren warns in the caption: “If Paramount Skydance buys up Warner Bros, many of the shows you watch will all be owned by the same company — and they can jack your prices up.” Warren also explains in a video the consequences of Paramount and Skydance’s previous merger.
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Warren suggests that such mergers, which must be approved by the current administration, allow President Donald Trump an undue influence over the media, referencing the assumed reason for Stephen Colbert’s recent cancellation. However, Warren mostly emphasizes how further consolidation in entertainment only means higher prices as competition diminishes.
She points out that antitrust laws are supposed to prevent this. Again summarized, in the second part of ...’s caption, Warren says: “We have antitrust laws for a reason, and it’s on Donald Trump to enforce them.” However, she is apparently also arguing that Trump does not want to enforce these laws, as she believes he benefited from the Paramount Skydance merger.
Warner Bros. made history this summer with a record-breaking streak of successful movie openings, providing instantly iconic original features, including Sinners and Weapons. While One Battle After Another ended that streak, it is only another victory as the Best Picture frontrunner for the 2026 Oscars. The studio’s movies go to HBO Max, as the company owns the network and streaming service.
The merger would theoretically result in HBO Max or Paramount+ being eliminated, meaning audiences would pay for one less subscription, but Warren wants to underscore that mergers still result in corporations having too much market power. Recent events should be considered by everyone following the new Warner Bros. deal, as it demonstrates the purpose of these very old laws.