Hollywood
Musicians Union sues Paramount for outsourcing jobs
MUMBAI: The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) has filed a suit against Paramount Pictures, Inc for recording the score toSame Kind of Different As Me in Slovakia.
“Only weeks after we filed suit against Paramount for offshoring jobs in other films, they did it again. This total disrespect for musicians is shameful. It is nothing more than corporate greed,” said AFM International president Ray Hair.
The complaint, filed earlier this week in Los Angeles, claims Paramount breached its collective bargaining agreement with musicians that required Paramount films produced in the United States or Canada to be scored in the United States or Canada.
Same Kind of Different As Me, directed by Michael Carney and starring Renée Zellweger, Greg Kinnear and Jon Voight, is in post-production and scheduled for release next April. The film, based on the bestselling novel of the same name, was filmed in and around Jackson, Mississippi but was scored in Bratislava, Slovakia last month.
Hair explained that profitable film producers are increasingly offshoring scores simply to drive up profits at the expense of musicians. He pointed to Same Kind of Different As Me as a prime example of this alarming trend, which cheats musicians.
The AFM is seeking breach of contract damages, including wages and benefits that should have been paid to musicians in the US or Canada.
Hollywood
Paramount seeks FCC nod for foreign-backed $110 billion WBD deal
Gulf funds back merger as foreign stake nears 50 per cent, control stays with Ellison
NEW YORK: Paramount Global has approached the Federal Communications Commission seeking approval for foreign investments tied to its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, marking another key step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
According to regulatory filings made public this week, the investment backing the deal includes major Gulf sovereign funds such as the Public Investment Fund, the Qatar Investment Authority and L’imad Holding Company. Together, foreign investors are expected to hold just under 50 per cent of Paramount’s equity once the transaction is complete.
Despite the sizeable international backing, Paramount has made it clear that voting control will remain with the family of chief executive David Ellison, ensuring the company stays firmly under US control as required by broadcasting rules.
A company spokesperson described the FCC filing as routine for transactions involving foreign capital and stressed that it does not impact the closing of the deal. Under US law, any significant foreign ownership in broadcast licence holders must undergo regulatory review.
The merger itself has already cleared a major hurdle, with Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approving the deal on 23 April. The transaction values the company at $31 per share, a 147 per cent premium to its earlier trading price, reflecting strong strategic intent behind the tie-up.
If completed, the combined entity will bring together a vast portfolio including Warner Bros. film studios, HBO Max, and networks such as CNN, TNT and Discovery Channel. The deal is currently expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
However, scrutiny is intensifying. The US Department of Justice has issued subpoenas seeking details on the merger’s potential impact on cinema competition, streaming services and content licensing. Reviews are also anticipated in international markets, including the United Kingdom.
There is also a financial safety net built into the agreement. If regulators ultimately block the deal, Paramount would face a $7 billion break-up fee. Additionally, the company has taken on $2.8 billion in obligations previously owed by Warner Bros. Discovery to Netflix following an earlier terminated arrangement.
Paramount maintains that easing foreign ownership barriers will unlock fresh capital and strengthen its ability to compete in a rapidly evolving media landscape. For now, the spotlight remains on regulators, whose decision will determine whether this global media consolidation moves from script to screen.
