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UK Competition Watchdog Opens Formal Review of Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros Discovery Deal

By  |  June 10, 2026
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Britain’s competition regulator has moved forward with its examination of Paramount Skydance’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, initiating a formal Phase 1 investigation into the high-profile media merger.

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    The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced Tuesday that it had completed the preliminary information-gathering stage and had officially begun assessing the transaction, according to a statement from the regulator.

    The review will focus on whether the proposed combination could lead to a significant reduction in competition across the UK’s media and entertainment industries. Per a statement from the CMA, the regulator has established August 7 as the deadline for its initial assessment. Following that review, officials will determine whether the transaction can proceed or whether it requires a more extensive investigation.

    Prior to launching the formal review, the CMA sought feedback from interested parties regarding the merger’s potential effects on competition. According to a statement from the regulator, submissions were accepted between April 13 and April 27 as part of the consultation process.

    Read more: Paramount Seeks to Address Regulatory Concerns Over Warner Bros. Discovery Deal

    The proposed acquisition emerged after Paramount Skydance reportedly surpassed Netflix in a bidding contest for Warner Bros Discovery earlier this year. If approved, the deal would combine a number of major media properties, including CNN and CBS, within a single corporate structure.

    The transaction has drawn attention from regulatory authorities and industry participants on both sides of the Atlantic. Concerns have been raised by writers, actors, filmmakers and cinema operators about the broader implications of continued consolidation in the global entertainment business, according to statements and public commentary from industry groups.

    The merger is also facing scrutiny in the United States. Reuters reported last week that several states, including California and New York, were preparing legal challenges intended to prevent the transaction from moving forward.

    Commenting on the CMA’s latest step, a Paramount spokesperson said the regulator’s action was consistent with the anticipated review schedule and indicated the company would continue cooperating with competition authorities throughout the process.

    The CMA’s review represents another significant milestone in what is expected to be a closely watched regulatory process for one of the entertainment sector’s largest proposed mergers.

    Source: Story Board 18