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UK authorities allow Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger as Lisa Nandy confirms she won't intervene
Paramount has given assurances about the editorial independence of 5 News and its commitment to UK children's content.
NurPhoto / Getty Images
- Molly Moss
Published: Thursday, 6 August 2026 at 5:06 pm
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The UK government and its competition watchdog have confirmed that they will not intervene in Paramount's $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery.
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Lisa Nandy, the British culture secretary, has decided to allow the merger, despite previously saying she was "minded" to look at the deal in more detail. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has also cleared the deal.
"We have cleared this deal as it does not raise competition concerns in the UK. The evidence shows that, after the merger, Paramount will continue to face sufficient competition in the various areas it operates in," the CMA said in a statement.
The UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, meanwhile, said in a statement that Paramount made various pledges in a "deed of undertaking", including that it would "maintain the distinct editorial identities of key services and the editorial independence of news".
The Warner Bros. logo is displayed on the water tower at Warner Bros Studio. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images.
These assurances, which Paramount has offered to make legally binding, include 5 News maintaining its editorial independence, with its editorial direction entirely separate from CBS News and CNN International, and CNN International continuing to be available in the UK.
Meanwhile, Paramount's children’s channels, including Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, will remain editorially distinct and continue to commission and acquire original UK children's content.
Nandy will meet with Paramount in the coming weeks "with a view to seek assurances about the impact of this proposed deal on the wider creative industries", per the statement.
It went on to say: "The Secretary of State believes it is of the utmost importance to protect plurality, diversity and distinct British voices across our wider creative industries, including film, and shares the concerns about the impact consolidation could have on the UK’s creative industries."
Paramount said said in a statement: "Paramount is grateful to the CMA for its constructive engagement and its review of the transaction.
"These clearances recognise that the combination of Paramount and WBD will enhance consumer choice and enable a creative-first company to invest in more projects and bring stories to audiences worldwide."
The UK decision follows the European Commission’s conditional approval of the deal last month.
The California-led antitrust lawsuit and Writers Guild of America challenge now stand as the final major hurdles to the merger, with a trial set to begin in March 2027.
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Authors
Molly MossTrends Writer
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
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