A joint venture distributing Paramount and Universal films outside the U.S. and Canada
The European Commission has cleared Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery’s merger after Paramount agrees to end its distribution joint venture with Universal in Europe and to refrain from joint distribution deals with Universal or Disney for 10 years. The approval comes with a 13-month window to unwind the Universal agreement. US regulators are still evaluating the merger, with a court-ordered pause and potential injunction on the horizon.
The European Commission has approved a Paramount-Warner merger with conditions, saying competition persists in film production and streaming but warns over theatrical distribution. Paramount must divest its UIP stake and end its partnership with Universal within deadlines; the approval emphasizes consumer choice and scale to compete with tech platforms. U.S. regulators pause the case as states challenge the merger; a preliminary injunction hearing is slated for Aug. 3.