Channel 5

Paramount May Sell CNN to Settle California Antitrust Suit

Paramount has faced speculation it might divest CNN after its chief legal officer suggested divestiture and even a theoretical relocation of operations as potential remedies in a California-led multistate antitrust suit over its roughly $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Reporting by CNN analyst Brian Stelter and other outlets, however, quotes Paramount sources saying the company does not intend to sell CNN; CEO David Ellison considers CNN strategic and a possible complement to CBS News. The deal has won clearance from U.S. federal authorities, China and other jurisdictions, and British regulators approved it with five-year commitments protecting Channel 5 programming and editorial independence. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by 11 states and the Writers Guild of America, seeks to block the merger; the parties agree the deal cannot close until a trial on the merits or until mid-2027, with trial expected spring 2027.

WPP Embeds Media Teams Inside Clients' Offices

WPP is placing agency staff directly inside clients' offices under an "embedded" model to act as extensions of clients' marketing teams, says James Weinberg, Executive Director at WPP Media (T&P). In a VideoWeek interview Weinberg discusses CTV definitions and strategy, the limits of attention measurement, broadcasters needing outcome-based proof, WPP's Advanced TV capability (formerly Finecast), and WPP testing large-scale automation via WPP Open to identify TV spots that drive unique reach. He also highlights working with partners such as AudienceProject, and measurement pilots with Adelaide and Lumen, and stresses transparency, consistent measurement, and outcome-linked accountability across the industry.

UK May Intervene in Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

The UK government has signalled it may formally intervene in Paramount Skydance’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, citing media plurality and service‑availability concerns. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said on June 30 she is minded to issue a public interest intervention notice. The US Department of Justice has already cleared the deal as pro‑competitive, while the European Commission is expected to rule by early July. The Competition and Markets Authority has opened a merger inquiry and will decide by early August whether to move to a Phase 2 investigation; companies have until July 6 to submit representations. If intervention is issued, Ofcom would assess public interest considerations alongside the CMA’s competition review. The transaction is targeted to close in Q3 2026 but UK intervention could delay or impose remedies affecting structure, timeline, or assets.