Clearing the way for a Paramount-Warner Bros. merger
Summary
Paramount Skydance settled a 12-state antitrust lawsuit to clear the path for its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, agreeing to behavioral concessions like increased film production and editorial oversight for CBS News and CNN. Expert Eric Gordon argues these terms are weak compared to the structural changes California sought, suggesting antitrust enforcement may now rely on less powerful state actions. The episode also covers new hurdles for data center developers in Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott has halted permits pending a grid audit, a move reflecting bipartisan pu…
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Pega Blueprint AI workspace
Sponsor: Hard Lessons podcast from Morgan Stanley
Paramount-Skydance settlement clears Warner Bros. deal
Background: How Paramount won the deal from Netflix
Details on behavioral concessions and editorial oversight
Analysis: Behavioral vs. structural antitrust concessions
Antitrust enforcement shifting to state attorneys general
Transition and segment break
Sponsor: Pega Blueprint governance and compliance
Sponsor: Hard Lessons podcast from Morgan Stanley
Texas halts data center permits pending grid audit
Texas reversal from AI hub to moratorium on data centers
Bipartisan pushback on data centers in other states
Credits and closing remarks
Marketplace fall campaign and donation appeal
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