Slater’s replacement, Acting Assistant Attorney General Omed Assefy, insisted in an interview with Reuters in March that the Paramount/Warner deal would not be fast-tracked for approval due to political factors. “The idea that enforcement is somehow politicized is ridiculous,” he said.
DOJ says merger would boost competition
In announcing its approval, the DOJ said the deal was likely to increase competition in the streaming video market “by providing consumers with a more robust competitive alternative to larger offerings.” The deal will combine Paramount+ with HBO Max.
The DOJ also said that the merger was unlikely to harm competition in the market for the development, production, and distribution of theatrical films. “Instead, the evidence reflects widespread competition within the industry, which has generated greater production and diversity in film offerings and is likely to continue unabated,” the DOJ announcement said.
Although Paramount won over federal regulators, it will likely have to fight lawsuits from California, New York and other US states. The state is reportedly planning to file a lawsuit to block the merger in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, EU regulators are investigating the deal’s effects on financing and competition.
US states also sided with the Trump administration in the fight against Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary. The Biden-era Justice Department and most U.S. states sued Live Nation in 2024, but the Trump administration blindsided state attorneys general in the middle of the resulting lawsuit by agreeing to halt its investigation of the breakup.
The states continued litigation after the Trump administration withdrew and won the case. A federal jury ruled in April that Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated an illegal monopoly that overcharged fans for tickets. There are separate proceedings to determine damages and possible remedies, which may also include breakup of the company.
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