Paramount Officially Files with EU for Approval of $110 Billion Warner Bros. Acquisition
Alina Collins
Paramount Skydance has formally filed with the EU for approval of its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with a preliminary ruling deadline set for July 7 — one of the final regulatory hurdles before the merger can close.
What exactly does this deal bring under one roof?
The combined group would own the *Harry Potter*, *Mission: Impossible*, and *Casablanca* film franchises — the heart of Hollywood's IP vault.
On the news side, it merges CNN and CBS; on streaming, it locks in HBO. This means → one company would control content production, news distribution, and streaming all at once.
In plain terms = two major Hollywood studios become one, with a single owner running the full chain from movies to news to streaming.
Where does the EU review stand?
The European Commission has accepted the filing. The preliminary review deadline is July 7 — roughly one month away.
If competition concerns surface, regulators can open an in-depth probe lasting about three months. Final authority rests with EU competition commissioner Teresa Ribera.
The deal must also clear the EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation — a rule designed to prevent companies backed by sovereign-state funding from distorting fair competition.
How did Ellison get this far?
Paramount CEO David Ellison spent more than five months making repeated bids, ultimately beating rival buyer Netflix.
During that stretch he visited Washington, met shareholders, and met with President Donald Trump to build political support for the deal.
This reflects a transaction that goes well beyond a business negotiation — it required winning over Hollywood, Wall Street, and Washington simultaneously.
If it clears, what does it mean?
The Ellison family would control one of the world's most powerful media groups. David's father, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, has provided personal backing for the deal.
This means → Silicon Valley tech wealth is directly taking over a legacy Hollywood content empire, shifting the media industry's center of gravity toward tech dynasties.
But EU review remains a wild card: until July 7, no one knows whether the deal sails through or gets pulled into a lengthy investigation.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.