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Tue, 04 Aug 2026

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 Paramount chief executive David Ellison breaks silence on Warner Bros mega merger

The chief executive of Paramount-Skydance says criticism of $110bn (£82m) merger with Warner Bros. relies on outdated Hollywood model.
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has responded to criticism of his company's proposed $110bn merger with Warner Bros Discovery, calling it "a vision of Hollywood that no longer exists". In an op-ed published by The New York Times, Ellison defended the deal, saying it would not lead to excessive control over the market or erode newsroom independence. He also emphasized that Paramount and Warner's news outlets would remain non-partisan and committed to factual reporting. Ellison cited statistics showing that a combined company would account for less than 20% of US television watch time, down from around 30%. He highlighted plans to invest $30bn annually in content production, with a focus on traditional entertainment. The merger has been put on hold due to ongoing antitrust lawsuits and regulatory challenges.