\n
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) vowed that Democrats will \u201cbreak\u201d up large media conglomerates in response to a recent event hosted by Paramount CEO David Ellison following the company\u2019s deal with Warner Bros. Discovery this past week.<\/p>\n
\u201cEllison and the information oligarchs should enjoy it while they can because when Democrats win power we are going to break these anti-consumer, anti-free speech media conglomerates into pieces,\u201d Murphy wrote on the social platform X on Friday afternoon, alongside a photo of the event invitation.<\/p>\n
Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, own CBS under their parent company, Paramount. The two billionaires have positioned themselves as close allies of President Trump and his administration.<\/p>\n
The board of Warner Bros. Discovery approved the company\u2019s sale to Paramount on Thursday after a months-long bidding war with Netflix. Ellison\u2019s party at the U.S. Institute of Peace \u2014 where Trump\u2019s name was added to the building\u2019s exterior in December \u2014 in Washington, D.C., was held later that evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid F. Ellison cordially invites you to an intimate gathering in celebration of the First Amendment honoring the Trump White House and CBS White House Correspondents,\u201d the invitation read.<\/p>\n
The deal between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to be finalized in the third quarter of 2026.<\/p>\n
Democrats have been highly critical of the deal, which will now need final approval from Trump\u2019s Justice Department.<\/p>\n
In an open letter in April, over 100 Hollywood actors, directors and producers expressed their \u201cunequivocal opposition\u201d to the deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis transaction would further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a moment when our industries\u2014and the audiences we serve\u2014can least afford it,\u201d the film industry professionals wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences in the United States and around the world,\u201d they continued. \u201cAlarmingly, this merger would reduce the number of major U.S. film studios to just four.\u201d<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/i><\/p>\n
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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