A potential partnership between ViacomCBS and Comcast, meant to bolster the two companies’ flagging streaming services, has been put on hold due to antitrust concerns. A report by Forbes quotes a company insider, who says the companies will now be waiting to see how regulators react to a proposed WarnerMedia-Discovery merger before proceeding.
Forbes sources claim at least one high-level talk has been held between ViacomCBS and Comcast in June, discussing a potential merger between their Paramount+ and Peacock streaming services. Both services are struggling in a market already dominated by giants like Netflix, Amazon, and Disney.
Any plans made have now been put on hold, however, after President Biden signed an executive order on July 9 vowing to enforce the USA’s anti-trust laws more aggressively “to combat the excessive concentration of industry.”
Executives at ViacomCBS and Comcast will now wait to see whether regulators will challenge an upcoming merger between Warner Bros and Discovery, before deciding whether to make their own move. The companies still seem poised to explore other kinds of partnerships between the two streaming services, however, even if it just involves bundling the two subscriptions.
