U.S. Justice Department approves Paramount acquisition of WBD
Days before the UFC will hold their inaugural event at the White House in honor of Donald Trump’s birthday, the U.S. Justice Department has given the green light for Paramount Skydance to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
The approval of the $111 billion bid felt like a fait accompli given the relationship between the Trump administration and the Ellison family in addition to the current regulatory climate.
From Politico on the eight month review:
“After an extensive review, DOJ officials determined the transaction did not pose a threat to competition and declined to challenge it, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. The department approved the merger without requiring any divestitures, behavioral remedies or concessions, according to one of the people.”
The deal still has some hurdles as several U.S. state regulators are pushing back on it.
Both sides are now looking to close up the deal as soon as possible, restarting the conversation within the sphere of pro wrestling as to what this will ultimately mean for AEW who is under a domestic TV rights contract with WBD through 2027 with the entity holding a one year extension.
Paramount currently has no wrestling on any of its networks or services, but does have an extensive and expensive set of deals with TKO for UFC, Zuffa Boxing and PBR. TKO, of course, also owns WWE.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.