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CEOs Back $111B Deal to Merge Paramount, WBD
6 Aug
Summary
- Regal's CEO endorsed David Ellison's merger plan.
- The deal aims to combine Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
- Key commitments include 30+ films yearly and protected windows.
Regal Cinemas CEO Eduardo Acuna has publicly supported David Ellison's $111 billion proposal to merge Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. This endorsement comes as the industry experiences increased attendance and a strong upcoming release schedule. Acuna emphasized the necessity of a robust studio system to sustain this growth.
Ellison's Skydance has made several commitments, including releasing at least 30 theatrical films per year. The proposal also guarantees protected theatrical windows, with 45 days for transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) and 90 days for subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) for a minimum of three years. Furthermore, a substantial $30 billion annual investment in media content is planned.
Acuna believes these commitments, which Ellison is willing to formalize via a consent decree with State Attorneys General, are tangible and beneficial. He argued that prolonged legal disputes would create damaging uncertainty for studios, filmmakers, and theater businesses like Regal, hindering the industry's current positive trajectory. Therefore, he called for all parties to negotiate and finalize these commitments.
