Paramount CEO Skips Senate Hearing on $111 Billion Warner Bros. Merger

**TL;DR:** Paramount CEO David Ellison will not attend Wednesday's Senate hearing on the company's proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, citing a family funeral. Senator Cory Booker criticized the absence as a matter of public concern given the merger's scale.

**Context:** The proposed merger would combine two of Hollywood's largest studios under one roof. Paramount needs both shareholder and regulatory approval to complete the deal, which industry analysts rank among the largest media consolidations in history. The Senate hearing was scheduled as part of Congressional oversight of the transaction.

**Key Facts:** Paramount's SVP of U.S. public policy Ted Lehman wrote to Senator Booker confirming CEO David Ellison cannot be in Washington on Wednesday because he is attending a funeral for a family member who died. The company emphasized the merger would create competition against streaming giants like Netflix and increase content output across theaters and streaming platforms.

Senator Booker, who chairs the hearing, responded directly to Ellison: "As the leader of the company seeking to execute one of the largest media mergers in American history, your continued unwillingness to engage with Congressional oversight is itself a matter of public concern."

**What It Means:** The hearing proceeds Wednesday without the acquiring company's top executive. Lawmakers will still examine the merger's potential impact on competition, content creation, and consumers. The deal's fate remains tied to regulatory review, and Ellison's absence may intensify scrutiny rather than diminish it. Watch for whether the Senate issues a subpoena or requests a future appearance date.