Faced with criticism and legal challenges against the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has spoken out publicly. While the $111 billion deal is temporarily suspended by the US courts, he rejects accusations that the merger would create a group poised to dominate the market. "These are not the figures of a company capable of dictating what the public watches."he asserts, believing that the market shares of the future entity do not justify the concerns expressed by its opponents.
"Politically motivated attacks"
David Ellison goes further, asserting that the legal challenges to the acquisition are not solely based on economic competition. According to him, the criticism leveled at the deal is primarily driven by political considerations. The executive maintains that the future group would continue to operate in a highly competitive market, facing numerous players in film, television, and streaming, without possessing a dominant position that would allow it to impose its content on the public.
The promised independence of newsrooms
One of the most sensitive issues concerns news media. If the acquisition goes through, CNN and CBS News would be under the same ownership. David Ellison, however, assures that the newsrooms would retain their editorial independence. He promises that no editorial line would be imposed despite the change in ownership.
An operation still blocked by the justice system
Paramount Skydance's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery remains suspended for the time being by the US courts, which are reviewing appeals against the transaction. While awaiting a decision, David Ellison continues to defend this historic acquisition, which he presents as a response to the profound changes in the global entertainment industry rather than an attempt at excessive market concentration.
