UK Government considers intervention in Paramount-Warner merger
June 30, 2026 18.03 Europe/London By Julian Clover


The UK Government is considering intervening in Paramount’s £83 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery on public interest grounds.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has told Parliament she is “minded to intervene”, triggering a likely investigation by Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority.

The Government’s concerns focus on media plurality, the diversity of news ownership and the potential impact on UK broadcasting services.

The deal, agreed in February after Paramount beat rival bidder Netflix, would create one of the world’s largest media companies, combining Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets—including CNN, HBO Max, DC Studios and Discovery—with Paramount’s CBS, Channel 5, Paramount+ and film franchises such as Mission: Impossible and Star Trek.

If the intervention proceeds, Ofcom will examine whether the merger could reduce the plurality of news providers in the UK, while the CMA will assess competition issues before the Government decides whether to approve the transaction