Over 1,000 filmmakers, actors and industry professionals signed an open letter opposing Warner Bros Discovery’s proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, warning it would reduce competition and deepen consolidation in the U.S. media sector.
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Actors including Jane Fonda, Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo were among the signatories to the letter, which said the merger would result in fewer opportunities for creators, pressure on jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs and less choice for audiences.
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Paramount (PSKY.O), and Warner Bros (WBD.O), did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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The letter, released on Monday, stated that prior waves of consolidation have already put the industry under pressure, reducing the number of films produced and released and narrowing the range of stories that receive financing and distribution.
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The proposed Paramount-Warner Bros combination would bring together two of Hollywood’s largest studios and content libraries while uniting streaming platforms Paramount+ and HBO Max.
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The companies are planning to fold their streaming services into a single platform.