OMI Reacts to Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Deal & Trump’s Apparent Interference
And calls on state attorneys general to investigate
Washington, DC – Dr. Courtney Radsch, director of the Center for Journalism and Liberty at Open Markets released the following statement concerning the news that Netflix has dropped its bid for Warner Brothers Discovery and by default, enabled Paramount to advance its own offer:
“U.S. regulators and Congress should strongly oppose any attempt by Paramount to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. As we have made clear in response to other potential bidders—including Netflix—further consolidation of this industry would deepen already dangerous concentrations of power over film, television, news, and information.
The film and television industry has already been allowed to consolidate to the point where a handful of corporations control what stories get told, who gets to tell them, and on what terms. Allowing Paramount to absorb Warner Bros. Discovery would further entrench a system that suppresses competition, undermines independent journalism and creative labor, and narrows the range of voices and viewpoints available to the public. Such consolidation threatens democratic discourse and cultural vitality alike.
Congress and regulators must stop evaluating media mergers in isolation and instead assess the industry holistically. Decades of permissive antitrust enforcement have produced a brittle, centralized media system that serves corporate balance sheets rather than the public interest. What is needed now is not another merger but intentional restructuring—policies that promote distributed markets for film, news, and information, strengthen independent and local media, and reduce the outsized gatekeeping power of dominant firms.
The urgency of reform is heightened by deeply troubling political interference surrounding these deals. Reports that Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos abandoned a potential transaction immediately after a direct meeting with Donald Trump point to an unprecedented level of politically motivated involvement in media consolidation as Trump seeks to defang major news networks, like Warner Bros.-owned CNN.
This is not normal market behavior. It raises serious concerns about whether decisions shaping the nation’s information infrastructure are being influenced by political pressure rather than law, fair competition, or the public good.
Given the political sensitivity and democratic importance of the media sector, this apparent interference demands investigation. State attorneys general are uniquely positioned to act. They have long served as a bulwark against illegal concentrations of power and corruption, often stepping in where federal enforcement has failed. At a moment when they are already carrying immense responsibilities, we are asking them to do even more—and we do so with deep gratitude for their leadership and vigilance.
Blocking a Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal is necessary, but it is not sufficient. The broader task before policymakers is to rebuild a media system that is competitive, resilient, and democratically accountable. The public deserves nothing less.”
Also see:
Senate Judiciary Committee Must Push Regulators to Reject a Warner Brothers Discovery Acquisition (Statement)
Op-ed in The Guardian - “Netflix and Paramount deals are both wrong for Warner Bros Discovery – and democracy,” by Dr. Courtney Radsch
Written Testimony to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust with regard to the January 7, 2026 hearing, "Full Stream Ahead: Competition and Consumer Choice in Digital Streaming.”
OMI Statement: “Consolidating Streaming Under Netflix Is Bad for Everyone. US Antitrust Authorities Should Flip the Script & Promote Industry Independence.”