Key facts
- Film producers are concerned the Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger could limit access to historical news footage.
- The Archival Producers Alliance represents over 650 specialists who find and license archival material.
- The merger would combine the CNN and CBS News archives, two of the world's largest privately held broadcast news collections.
- Producers fear a single owner could deny access to footage based on political framing or content.
- British Culture Minister Lisa Nandy is considering intervention and a formal investigation into the deal.
A group of film producers has appealed to British Culture Minister Lisa Nandy to intervene in the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, fearing it could restrict access to vital news archives. The Archival Producers Alliance, representing over 650 specialists, warned that consolidating the CNN and CBS News archives under a single corporate owner for the first time would give that entity control over irreplaceable historical footage.
The CNN archive contains over 4 million assets spanning 45 years of global events, while the CBS News archive holds 85 years of broadcast footage and unaired materials. Producers rely on these vast libraries for documentaries covering wars, elections, civil rights, and international affairs. They expressed concern that a combined entity could deny licensing requests based on a film's political framing, its portrayal of the company's talent, or other subjective criteria, leaving filmmakers with no alternative sources.
This situation has direct consequences for Britain, as UK producers routinely license American news footage to tell stories with international relevance. The producers urged Nandy to launch a full investigation and, if necessary, impose conditions to ensure continued access to and preservation of these archives. Nandy is currently deciding whether to issue a formal intervention notice, with a separate antitrust initial review under the Enterprise Act 2002 set to conclude by August 7. The minister has also voiced broader concerns about the deal's impact on international news, children's television, and streaming services.