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Film Producers Raise Antitrust Concerns Over Paramount-Warner Deal

By  |  July 30, 2026
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A coalition of documentary film producers is urging British regulators to closely examine the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the combination could concentrate control over two of the world’s largest television news archives and limit access to historical footage used in documentaries.

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    According to Reuters, the Archival Producers Alliance has asked U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene in the transaction, warning that bringing the CNN and CBS News archives under a single corporate owner could make it more difficult for filmmakers to obtain archival material essential to documenting historical events.

    Reuters reported that the producers contend the combined company would control decades of broadcast journalism, including CNN’s collection of more than 4 million archival assets spanning roughly 45 years and CBS News’ archive covering about 85 years of broadcast and unpublished material. The group said the consolidation raises concerns about future licensing decisions for documentary filmmakers.

    Read more: Paramount Delays Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Until Antitrust Case Moves Forward

    The alliance argued, according to Reuters, that access to archival footage can already depend on editorial approval by rights holders and warned that a single owner could refuse licenses for projects because of their political perspective or subject matter. Reuters reported the producers cited an instance in which filmmakers were denied access to previously licensed wartime footage over concerns about the project’s political context.

    The organization told the U.K. government that restrictions on access to historically significant footage could cause lasting harm to documentary production and public understanding of major events, Reuters reported. The group is seeking a full review of the merger and safeguards to preserve access to the archives.

    Reuters reported that Britain’s review of the transaction under the Enterprise Act 2002 is scheduled to conclude by Aug. 7. In addition to concerns about archive access, Nandy has identified potential issues involving news plurality, children’s programming and streaming services as part of the government’s assessment.

    Source: Reuters