Former Connecticut attorney general George Jepsen shares his perspective on the merger.

The proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery merits careful, evidence-based examination. Yet antitrust enforcement should promote competition rather than preserve legacy media firms while Big Tech dominates streaming.

State Attorneys General reviewing this deal must consider a key issue: would blocking the merger truly benefit consumers, workers and competition, or would it simply empower Netflix, Amazon, Disney and Google-owned YouTube?

Since 2021, the average American household has seen its streaming expenses rise nearly 26 percent. Families manage multiple services for entertainment while everyday costs keep climbing.

A merged Paramount-Warner Bros. could deliver a strong entertainment option to challenge streaming leaders Netflix, Disney and Amazon. Tech firms entered with vast capital, subscriber bases and distribution advantages that exceed those of traditional studios. The combination would heighten rivalry against these platforms and ease pressure on household budgets.

Netflix holds nearly a third of U.S. streaming viewership. Amazon, Disney and Google-owned YouTube account for most remaining share. A combined Paramount-WBD would still place fifth in household reach, behind those four services. This does not create a monopoly. It reflects two smaller players seeking viability in a market led by Big Tech.

The antitrust calculation is clear. A combined Paramount-WBD would stay below the 30 percent market share level that presumes harm under the 2023 DOJ and FTC guidelines. The top three platforms already control 65 percent of U.S. streaming viewership. Blocking the deal would only reinforce those dominant players and reduce competition.

Workers in entertainment should note the employment effects. The sector has lost more than 15,000 jobs since 2021. Greater studio output would support more productions, steadier employment and reliable income for creators.

Advocacy groups have drawn attention by pressing state Attorneys General to halt the merger.

Attorneys General must evaluate these deals based on effects for consumers and workers. During my eight years as Connecticut Attorney General, I saw antitrust authority as a key tool that requires decisions rooted in facts and market conditions, not headlines or short-term politics.

Despite concerns from Cinema United and theater owners, Paramount has pledged 30 films annually and a 45-day theatrical window. The Amazon-MGM merger lifted output from four films in 2025 to 14 in 2026. Studios such as Lionsgate, A24 and Neon continue to deliver major releases and awards success. These examples show a combined Paramount-WBD would boost investment and production without harming competition.

Although Connecticut is not Hollywood, the state holds meaningful ties to media and entertainment. Major outlets including ESPN, NBC Sports, WWE, A&E Networks and Charter Communications are based there. Decisions in this industry affect local businesses and communities, as they do elsewhere.

Every merger requires thorough, evidence-driven review that places consumer interests first. The Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery transaction is no different.

As Attorney General, I held that credibility depends on consistent application of law and outcomes guided by evidence. Data on market share, pricing, employment and competition support allowing this transaction to proceed.

American consumers and families require greater streaming competition, not less. The evidence shows this merger provides it, and the law permits it to advance.

George Jepsen served as Attorney General for Connecticut from 2011 to 2019.

Contact
Evan Corder
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SOURCE George Jepsen