EXCLUSIVE: The UK film and TV industry is being urged to help block the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) merger by a coalition including Alan Cumming, with a government decision on whether to intervene expected imminently.
The Traitors host Cumming posted a video as part of a coalition calling itself Block the Merger UK, which urges people to contact the Department for Culture, Media and Sport or regulator Ofcom, demanding they examine the merger in more depth.
Making his case passionately, Cumming said that, if the merger goes through, “one country would control a massive slice of what we watch in Britain,” as he listed content like FA Cup soccer, the Olympics, CNN and Channel 5 News, which would “all [be] answering to a giant conglomerate beholden to Donald Trump, autocrats and oligarchs.”
“There would be thousands of job cuts, fewer films and higher prices,” Cumming said in the vid. “But it isn’t a done deal. UK regulators just need to hear from you.” Watch the vid in full below.
“This Merger Will Harm The People Of The UK”
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The Block the Merger UK website is helping industry folk with the task by creating an email template, which lists how best to complain to the government and Ofcom, and who to contact.
“I urge you to intervene in Paramount Skydance Corporation’s (“Paramount”) anticipated acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (“WBD”) by issuing a Public Interest Intervention Notice under section 42 of the Enterprise Act 2002,” reads the email template. “I welcome your statement that you are minded to intervene, and I ask you to initiate your investigation without delay. This merger will harm me and the people of the UK.”
Block the Merger first emerged in April after an open letter was signed by thousands of huge Hollywood stars, including Cumming alongside the likes of Robert De Niro, Sofia Coppola and Holly Hunter.
Thoughts have turned to the UK as Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said last month she is “minded to intervene” in the $110 billion takeover.
Nandy is now poised to decide whether the UK government will formally intervene. She will do so by laying a written statement before Parliament, potentially issuing a formal intervention notice, which would trigger investigations by Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority, the antitrust watchdog.
Paramount will be hoping that Nandy makes a statement either today or Wednesday, given Parliament breaks for the summer on Thursday and will not return until September 1.
Paramount wants to close the deal by the end of September, a notable deadline because of its “ticking fee” commitment to WBD shareholders of 25 cents a share — roughly $650M — for every quarter the takeover does not finalize beyond Q3.
The UK government’s choreography on WarnerMount will not be impacted by a change in Prime Minister. Andy Burnham is widely expected to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader this week before taking his place in 10 Downing Street. He will likely reshuffle his cabinet, meaning Nandy’s future as culture secretary is in question. If she is replaced, her successor will likely carry on Nandy’s work on the merger.
The news comes as a dozen U.S. states, including California, are attempting to block the deal after challenging the transaction as stifling competition for wide-release theatrical film distribution, anticipated big-budget blockbusters, and basic cable television channel licensing.
Deadline has reached out to Paramount and the UK government.
