U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), David Cicilline (D-RI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and 29 colleagues in sending the letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter to encourage an investigation into the proposed $43 billion merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia for antitrust law violations.
The legislators are also requesting whether the proposed merger would reduce diverse content in a more consolidated and less competitive market.
“The proposed merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery will not only lead to the enhanced market power of an already humongous company — it may also lead to less racial representation in the media and entertainment industry,” Warren said. “We must stop harmful mergers, and the Department of Justice should thoroughly investigate this proposed merger to ensure diverse content and workers are protected.”
The lawmakers maintain the proposed transaction raises significant antitrust concerns, detailing it threatens to enhance the market power of the combined firm and substantially lessen competition in the media and entertainment industry, harming consumers and American workers.
“For far too long, Hollywood studios have excluded Latinos from opportunities in the industry, perpetuating dangerous stereotypes and inaccurate portrayals,” Castro said. “Latinos are nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population, one-in-five Americans, but we’re almost invisible on-screen and behind the camera. I’m deeply concerned that the proposed merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia will lead to concentrated exclusion, harming consumers and workers — especially Latinos who are already the most underrepresented group.”