DOJ greenlights $111B Warner-Paramount merger, but antitrust fights loom

For antitrust practitioners, the DOJ's approval signals a seismic shift in how regulators assess media consolidation. By prioritizing competition from tech platforms like Netflix and Amazon, the department effectively redefined the relevant market, a move that could have far-reaching implications for future mergers in concentrated industries.

On June 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division approved Paramount Skydance Corp’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, ending an eight-month investigation that was viewed as the most significant regulatory hurdle for the mega-merger. The decision clears the way for the combination of two Hollywood studio titans — Paramount, owner of CBS and Paramount+, and Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes HBO, CNN, and the Warner Bros. film studio. In a market increasingly defined by intense competition for audiences and content spending, the DOJ concluded that the deal would not harm competition or consumers, arguing that the streaming landscape, populated by Netflix, Amazon, and Apple, as well as smaller players, provides ample alternatives.

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The merger valuation has been reported at both $110 billion (NZ$188 billion) and $111 billion, reflecting adjustments in deal structure.

The DOJ’s rationale represents a notable shift in antitrust analysis. Rather than focusing on traditional film and television market concentration, the division emphasized the broader entertainment ecosystem, where tech giants have disrupted legacy media. This mirrors a growing acceptance that scale is necessary to compete with Silicon Valley’s deep pockets. Paramount itself framed the merger as “pro-competitive,” promising a stronger entity better positioned to invest in talent, technology, and original content. The company stated it aims to complete the transaction as soon as possible, delivering benefits to consumers and creators.

Despite the DOJ’s green light, the deal faces multiple remaining obstacles that could delay or derail it. The Federal Communications Commission has not yet approved a petition seeking permission for foreign interests — specifically, sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi — to own up to 100 percent of the debt in the deal. Democratic senators have raised national security concerns over Middle Eastern state-owned funds providing financing. The FCC review is a separate process that examines foreign ownership under public interest standards, adding significant uncertainty. Additionally, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that his office’s antitrust investigation remains active. “The merger of Warner Bros and Paramount is not a done deal and remains under investigation by my office,” he said in a social media post following the DOJ decision. Several other states have also raised antitrust concerns. The European Union is conducting its own parallel probe, which could impose conditions or block the deal in member states.

Political dimensions add complexity. Paramount CEO David Ellison’s father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has cultivated close ties with President Donald Trump, and the company has hired former Trump administration officials. While Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi stated publicly that politics would “absolutely not” influence the review, the appearance of favoritism could color perceptions. The deal’s large foreign funding component also ties into broader geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding U.S. media ownership by Gulf states.