Britain has signalled it could intervene in, opening the door to a lengthy regulatory review despite the , China and several other jurisdictions.
If the formally steps in, the could face scrutiny over its impact on media plurality and competition.
Why is the UK reviewing the deal?
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the government is considering intervention because the merger could affect the provision of news and on-demand media services in Britain.
“I am mindful of the need to reach a final decision in a timely manner, and I will endeavour to do so as appropriate,” Nandy said.
She has given the companies until July 6 to respond before deciding whether to launch a formal public interest investigation.
What concerns does Britain have?
The government’s primary concern is media plurality—ensuring that no single company gains excessive influence over news and media content.
The combined company would own several significant media assets in the UK, including:
Channel 5, owned by Paramount
CNN International, owned by Warner Bros Discovery
TNT Sports
Cartoon Network
Nickelodeon
HBO Max
Nandy also noted that Britain’s current media laws were written when broadcast television dominated the market and may not adequately cover modern streaming services. She said the government could introduce new legislation if necessary.
The merger has already secured regulatory approval in:
The United States
China
Australia
Germany
France
Saudi Arabia
Meanwhile, European Union antitrust regulators are still reviewing the transaction.
What does Paramount say?
rejected concerns that the merger threatens media diversity in Britain.
“We are confident that our proposed transaction does not pose any media plurality issues in the UK and remain confident in our stated transaction timeline,” a company spokesperson said.
The company continues to expect the deal to close on schedule.
Once the companies submit their responses, Nandy will decide whether to issue a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN).
If she does, the deal will undergo parallel reviews by:
Ofcom
Competition and Markets Authority
The regulators will have up to 40 days to submit their findings.
Based on those recommendations, the UK government can:
-Approve the deal;
-Approve it subject to remedies, such as divestments or editorial safeguards; or
-Refer it to an in-depth Phase 2 investigation lasting up to 24 weeks.
(With Reuters inputs)