Bectu Urges Government to Block Paramount‑WBD $110bn Merger Over UK Film Job Risks

The trade union for screen workers has written to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, urging ministers to stop a deal it says will deepen insecurity for an already fragile workforce. The union’s appeal arrives as regulators in the UK, EU and US prepare to review the merger.

Paramount Global agreed in February 2026 to buy Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion. The combined entity pledged to release at least 30 theatrical films each year and to keep a minimum 45‑day window between cinema and home‑video releases. Approval still requires clearance from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the European Commission and the US Justice Department.

Bectu’s head, Philippa Childs, said the timing is “exactly the wrong moment” for a sector already facing high unemployment. A recent Bectu survey of more than 500 screen professionals found 39.5 % were out of work, only a slight improvement on the 43 % unemployment rate recorded in its 2025 Big Survey. Nearly one in three respondents expect to leave the industry within five years.

The union argues that the merger could reduce competition, narrow commissioning opportunities and lead to fewer films shown in UK cinemas. Because most creative workers are freelancers, they bear the brunt of cancelled commissions and shorter production slates. Bectu has submitted evidence to the CMA, warning that previous merger reviews have ignored these freelance dynamics.

If the deal proceeds, decision‑making on jobs and investment could shift further from the people who create content, weakening collective bargaining power. The union also highlighted the risk of a more concentrated media ownership landscape, which could limit plurality in UK media.

The CMA’s assessment will determine whether the merger’s market benefits outweigh the potential harm to the creative workforce. Bectu’s letter joins an open appeal signed by 14 industry figures addressed to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, urging broader government support for on‑set safety and job security.

Watch for the CMA’s final ruling and any parliamentary debate that could shape the future of UK film production.