EU Cinema Body UNIC Reacts to Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Deal Approval

The Brussels-based International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), representing exhibitors in 39 European territories, has expressed disappointment with the European Commission's approval of Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

UNIC Calls for Broader Conditions

UNIC CEO Laura Houlgatte stated that while the Commission's decision to require the divestment of Paramount's stake in United International Pictures (UIP) is a step in the right direction, it should have gone further in addressing competition concerns.

Conditions for Approval

The European Commission's ruling stipulates that Paramount cannot directly or indirectly enter into agreements with Universal to jointly co-distribute films in the European Economic Area (EEA) for a period of ten years. Additionally, Paramount will not be allowed to shift the distribution of Warner films from Warner's existing distributor to the theatrical distributor used by Paramount in certain EEA countries.

Geographical Scope of Conditions

• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czechia
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden

UNIC's Criticisms

UNIC has expressed concern that the ruling does not address issues such as theatrical windows, access to back catalogues, and the preservation of film output and production pipelines. The organization also regrets that the European Media Board did not examine the wider implications of the transaction for media pluralism, cultural diversity, and the audiovisual market.

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