Expert details how Paramount-Warner Bros. merger could change media landscape
Mass media corporation Paramount Skydance, owner of Paramount+ and CBS, has won a bidding war to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, home to HBO Max and CNN. While the proposed $111 billion deal still has hurdles to overcome before it closes, a successful conclusion could significantly alter the streaming service and broadcast news landscapes.
Megan Duncan, who studies how partisan audiences engage with news media, answered questions about potential consequences of this massive media merger.
How does the proposed merger fit in with recent media trends?
“The media field, especially as it relates to streaming, is very unsettled. After a period of huge expansion, where start-ups thrived and ownership was fragmented, we’re going through a period of contraction and ownership consolidation.”
What would this merger mean for typical viewers?
“For the audience, this means less choice, less room for outside storytelling innovation, and fewer opportunities to vote with your remote. If this deal goes through, for example, CBS News and CNN would be housed in the same company. If you don’t like the editorial choices those networks make, there’s fewer places to give your attention to.”
How might this merger affect news coverage?
“During periods where media corporations are seeking regulatory approval from government agencies, we regularly see corporate leaders play it safe and avoid making waves. Especially with all the national and international events going on, it’s a scary thought that either of these corporations would hedge against telling the audience the truth about a new story because it would invite additional questions from congressional oversight or agency regulators.”
About Duncan
Megan Duncan is an associate professor in the School of Communication. Her research focuses on how partisans judge the credibility of and engage with the news. Using survey-embedded experiments, surveys, and other quantitative methods, she’s interested in knowing more about audiences, their perceptions of the news, how they form opinions, and how to use this knowledge to make democracy stronger. Read more about Megan Duncan.
Schedule an interview
To schedule an interview, contact Mike Allen in the media relations office at mike.allen@vt.edu or 540-400-1700.
