CFJ Op-Ed: The Merger isn't Killing Hollywood. Hollywood Already Did That
- Ashley Baker
- 3 days ago
- 1 min read
In a new Washington Examiner op-ed, CFJ Executive Director Ashley Baker argues that state attorneys general challenging Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery are misreading both the merger and the state of Hollywood.
Hollywood’s Real Problem
The op-ed argues that Hollywood is already in serious decline. Ticket sales are far below historic levels, monthly moviegoing has dropped sharply, and box office revenue has been propped up mainly by higher ticket prices. In Baker’s view, audiences are not staying home because of mergers; they are staying home because there are too few compelling new films worth the trip.
Jobs And Output
Baker also challenges claims that the merger would be the cause of Hollywood job losses, noting that major declines in entertainment employment and on-location filming began years before this deal. The op-ed argues that the key question is whether the merger would lead to more production, since more films mean more work for crews, studios, theaters, and local economies.
The Commitments Matter
The piece highlights Paramount’s commitments to maintain both studios, release at least 30 theatrical films per year, and preserve a 45-day theatrical window before video-on-demand. Baker argues that these commitments would increase production volume and support jobs across the broader creative economy.
The Bottom Line
Baker’s conclusion is that courts should weigh evidence, not rhetoric. If Hollywood’s core problem is fewer moviegoers and too few films, then blocking a merger that promises more theatrical releases would do little to help competition, consumers, workers, or theaters.
