This is the third time the Warner and Paramount merger has been deemed a done deal. The first was when it finally beat Netflix at the last minute. The second, when the FCC gave it the green light with (of course) Donald Trump in office. And now, when it has been announced that Paramount has reached an agreement with the 12 states that had halted the deal. However, once again, they may have run into a major roadblock: the workers.
ParaSTOP
Now, the ones flatly opposed to the deal are the group Block The Merger, a coalition of different industry professionals who have asked Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguin not to approve the 111-billion-dollar merger or, at least, to give them the chance to speak before delivering her verdict. Today, the judge will hear several parties, and she may also allow Block The Merger to have its say.
What would happen if the judge ultimately decided not to allow the merger? It would be a debacle for Paramount, which would go back to square one and would have to start paying a fortune to Warner’s executives. Originally, before reaching an agreement with the states, she was going to hear what the group had to say, but afterward that was up in the air. And, invoking free speech, they’re asking to be heard, because there’s still hope.
Let’s not kid ourselves either: as maddening as it is, the merger seems destined to happen, and time is running out in the courts to stop it. The next step is the financial side, where they’re already even talking about bringing Elon Musk into the equation. Ellison and Musk producing movies together: now that really would be a genuine debacle.
