Paramount has offered written commitments to guarantee 30 theatrical releases per year to major U.S. movie theater chains [1].
These guarantees are intended to placate antitrust concerns and secure industry support for Paramount's pending $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery [3]. The move comes as regulators and trade groups express fear that the merger would reduce the volume of content available to cinemas.
CEO David Ellison has promised a slate of 30 films annually [1]. These releases would be subject to a 90-day theatrical window [2], a period during which the films must play exclusively in theaters before moving to streaming or digital platforms.
Reports differ on which chains have finalized these agreements. Some sources said that Paramount has secured written commitments with Regal [1], while other reports indicate that contracts have been promised to both AMC and Regal [2].
Despite these offers, the merger faces significant legal headwinds. Twelve U.S. states filed a lawsuit in July to block the deal [4]. State officials said they fear the consolidation will squeeze local movie theaters and limit consumer choice.
The theater trade group Cinema United also continues to oppose the merger [3]. The group has backed the legal efforts to stop the acquisition, suggesting that individual studio promises may not be enough to offset the loss of competition in the film market.
Paramount is attempting to stabilize its relationship with exhibitors as the $111 billion deal moves through the legal system [3]. By codifying the number of releases and the length of the theatrical window, the company aims to prove that the merger will not harm the cinematic experience.
“Paramount has offered written commitments to guarantee 30 theatrical releases per year”
This strategy represents a calculated attempt to neutralize the 'monopsony' argument—the idea that a merged entity would have too much power over theater owners. By guaranteeing a specific volume of content and a traditional 90-day window, Paramount is trying to provide the legal and financial certainty that regulators and trade groups like Cinema United claim is missing from the merger agreement.
