David Ellison has written an open letter to the UK creative community, committing to content investment, theatrical windows, and preserving HBO, as Paramount continues its pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
With Ellison’s hopes of landing his prize looking increasingly bleak, the CEO also took the opportunity to swipe at Netflix, suggesting that the streamer’s vision for WBD’s studios assets would create a “monopolistic or dominant entity.”
Netflix has said it is “highly confident” of getting its $83B deal past regulatory authorities in the UK and beyond. “This deal is pro-consumer, pro-innovation, pro-worker, pro-creator and pro-growth,” a UK spokesperson said in a statement last week.
Ellison, who has been meeting with UK lawmakers as part of a charm offensive in the country, said: “We believe the creative community and audiences are best served by greater choice — not less — and by a marketplace that encourages the full spectrum of filmmaking, content creation, and theatrical exhibition, not one that eliminates meaningful competition by creating a monopolistic or dominant entity.”
He specifically named Netflix, adding: “In stark contrast to Netflix’s path, this proposed combination is intended to strengthen competition by creating a more capable and effective rival to the dominant platforms.”
Ellison set out Paramount’s commitments as part of its hostile WBD takeover plan, though there did not appear to be any specific gestures to the UK creative community. He repeated Paramount’s plan to release more than 30 cinema films a year and said the company would commit to a minimum theatrical window of 45 days (Netflix has made the same pledge).
“HBO will continue to operate independently under our ownership, enabling it to create more of the world-class content it is renowned for,” he added. HBO Max will launch in March in the UK, where Paramount owns assets including 5, the public service broadcasting network.
Ellison concluded: “At Paramount, we will do everything in our power to ensure the next generation of extraordinary films can be told and seen by the broadest possible audience on the biggest screens. And we will do so under conditions of fair access and vibrant marketplace choice—because we are pro-competition, pro-creative community, and pro-consumer.”
Below is the full letter:
To the British creative community, fellow film lovers and television fans, the industry at large, and all who care deeply about the future of cinema and the arts.
As a producer and lifelong fan of movies and television, I am writing this open letter to speak clearly and unequivocally about the vital role visual storytelling plays in our society. Films and television transcend age, ethnicity, politics, and socio-economic status, connecting us through shared experience. They entertain and inspire us, transport us to new worlds, preserve our history, and expand our sense of what is possible. This art form is essential—and it must be protected and preserved for generations to come.
At Paramount, these beliefs are what drive us and our pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery. We see an extraordinary opportunity to bring together our two celebrated companies, enabling us to tell more stories, reach broader audiences, and amplify impact. Just as important, we believe the creative community and audiences are best served by greater choice—not less—and by a marketplace that encourages the full spectrum of filmmaking, content creation, and theatrical exhibition, not one that eliminates meaningful competition by creating a monopolistic or dominant entity.
I want to be absolutely clear—if we succeed in acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, here are the commitments I make to the creative community and to audiences:
Increased Creative Output: Paramount Studios and Warner Bros. Studios will each produce a minimum of 15 high-quality feature films per year, for a total of at least 30 films annually across the group—delivering great entertainment to audiences while supporting sustained job creation across the film and creative industries. We have already increased Paramount’s output from 8 to 15 films since closing the Paramount-Skydance transaction this past August.
Third-Party Content and Licensing: Both studios will continue to support a vibrant third-party ecosystem by licensing their films and shows across their own and third-party platforms, while remaining active buyers of content from third-party studios and independent producers.
Preserving HBO: HBO will continue to operate independently under our ownership, enabling it to create more of the world-class content it is renowned for.
Theatrical Commitment: Every film will receive a full theatrical release, with a minimum 45-day window globally before becoming available on paid video-on-demand (VOD), with the intention of 60–90 days or more to maximize the audience for our most successful releases. We will continue to adhere to the specific windowing commitments we have across the geographies we operate in.
Preserving the Home Video Window: Following its theatrical run, each film will transition to the current industry-standard home video window, preserving paid video-on-demand prior to availability on subscription streaming services.
Again, I make these commitments because I have a deep love and appreciation for storytelling—especially on screen—and because I firmly believe that uniting Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery presents a unique opportunity to build a true champion for the creative community, one that can and will bring more stories to life, support filmmakers and talent with real scale, and compete effectively on the global stage as an independent media leader. At the same time—and in stark contrast to Netflix’s path—this proposed combination is intended to strengthen competition by creating a more capable and effective rival to the dominant platforms.
At Paramount, we will do everything in our power to ensure the next generation of extraordinary films can be told and seen by the broadest possible audience on the biggest screens. And we will do so under conditions of fair access and vibrant marketplace choice—because we are pro-competition, pro-creative community, and pro-consumer. This commitment drives our pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery, and we hope we can count on your strong support as we work tirelessly to safeguard the future of visual storytelling.
Sincerely,
David Ellison
Chairman and CEO
Paramount, a Skydance Corporation