Producers urge UK to probe Paramount-Warner merger over archive access concerns

Los Angeles: Access to history has become the latest battleground in the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, with documentary producers warning that the deal could place two of the world’s largest television news archives under a single corporate owner, according to a Reuters report.

The appeal comes from the Archival Producers Alliance, which represents more than 650 archival specialists across the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries. The group has urged Lisa Nandy to launch a formal investigation into the merger and, if necessary, impose conditions to safeguard continued access to historic news footage.

At the heart of the concern is the combination of the vast archives of CNN and CBS News. CNN’s archive contains more than four million assets spanning 45 years of global news coverage, while CBS News holds 85 years of broadcast footage, including unaired material and B-roll. Together, they represent two of the largest privately owned collections of television news content.

The producers argue that these archives are essential for documentary filmmakers, who regularly rely on licensed footage to tell stories about wars, elections, civil rights movements and international affairs. They contend that consolidating ownership could allow a single company to decide who can access unique historical footage, with few alternative sources available.

The concerns follow questions already raised by the UK government over the merger’s potential impact on media plurality. In correspondence sent to the companies in June, the government noted that the transaction would place the CNN and CBS archives under common ownership for the first time, while also highlighting possible implications for international news, children’s television and streaming services.

The producers also pointed to previous instances in which filmmakers were denied access to archival footage because of concerns over how the material would portray military operations or public figures. They warned that further consolidation could make such restrictions more common, potentially limiting the production of documentaries that rely on irreplaceable news footage.

A spokesperson for Paramount declined to comment on the producers’ request, according to the Reuters report.

The UK government’s initial review of the merger under the Enterprise Act 2002 is expected to conclude by August 7. While regulators continue to assess competition and media plurality issues, documentary producers argue that preserving access to historic news archives is just as important as evaluating the commercial impact of the deal.