US approval of Paramount/Warner Bros. deal surprised DOJ lawyers, report says
Slater’s replacement, Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi, insisted in an interview with Reuters in March that the Paramount/Warner deal will not be fast-tracked for approval because of political factors. “The idea that somehow enforcement has been politicized is ludicrous,” he said.
DOJ says merger will boost competition
The DOJ announcement of its approval said the deal is likely to increase competition in the streaming video market “by offering consumers a more robust competitive alternative” to the larger offerings. The deal would combine Paramount+ with HBO Max.
The DOJ also said the merger is unlikely to harm competition in the market for development, production, and distribution of theatrical films. “Instead, the evidence shows extensive competition within the industry, which has generated greater output and diversity of film offerings, and is likely to continue unabated,” the DOJ announcement said.
Although Paramount won over federal regulators, it will likely have to fight...
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