American cinema owners, who previously opposed the merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, are now calling for a peaceful resolution of the antitrust lawsuit, according to infohub.kz.
The trade association Cinema United, which represents the interests of cinemas, has sent a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Paramount CEO David Ellison proposing negotiations. Earlier, the organization opposed the $110 billion deal, but has now changed its position.
The change of course was prompted by the decision of the major chains AMC, Regal, and Cinemark to support the merger of the studios. In return, Paramount has committed to releasing at least 30 films per year for wide theatrical release with a 45-day exclusive window for cinema screenings.
Cinema United emphasized the need for legal guarantees: maintaining production volumes, preventing increases in film rental fees for independent cinemas, and access to the catalogs of both giants. In response, Rob Bonta said he is ready to listen to the industry but believes the deal violates the law.