States Settle Antitrust Suit, Clearing Paramount-WBD Deal

Is this an enforceable win for Hollywood workers or a winning antitrust case traded away for empty promises?

Published 8 hours ago

States Settle Antitrust Suit, Clearing Paramount-WBD Deal

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Above: Rob Bonta speaks during a news conference in Oakland, California, on Aug. 18. Image credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

This settlement locks in real, court-enforceable wins for Hollywood: more movies every year, at least $1.5 billion in new domestic production and a $47.5 million fund for displaced workers. Miss the film targets and Paramount has to hand over Miramax and cut big checks to union health care and retirement funds. Cable negotiations stay separate, so prices stay competitive.

Liz Webster The Office of California Attorney General

Left narrative

A winning antitrust case got traded away for promises no one can enforce. A judge had already halted this $81 billion deal and set a trial, and then political pressure and threats to leave California did the rest. Now one billionaire family controls two media giants, tens of thousands of jobs get cut for $8 billion in savings and every future merger knows bullying works.

Liz Webster The American Prospect

Right narrative

This is a win for California and its film industry, while activists like Mark Ruffalo lost. Bonta spent months claiming the merger was "illegal" and that these remedies would not fix the market problems he sued over, only to sign anyway. The settlement clears the path for the merger, keeps film jobs in California and proves Bonta was wrong all along.

Liz Webster Liz Webster