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Senator Warren Urges Antitrust Scrutiny Over Paramount's Streaming Expansion

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 10:08 GMT by The Hill

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Senator Elizabeth Warren Raises Antitrust Concerns Over Paramount’s Expanding Media Footprint

In a recently aired hearing that drew the attention of the media‑watchdog community, Senator Elizabeth Warren, a long‑time champion of antitrust enforcement, called out Paramount Global for its aggressive expansion in the streaming wars. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (or the Senate Judiciary Committee, depending on the source) convened a hearing titled “Paramount Competition” to probe the growing concentration of media power and its implications for consumers, small‑business advertisers, and the broader cultural landscape.

The Context: Paramount’s Consolidation and the Streaming War

The article’s opening frames Paramount Global’s recent corporate maneuvers: the merger of Viacom and CBS, the launch of the Paramount+ streaming service, and a series of high‑profile content acquisitions—including the 2021 purchase of CBS’s streaming rights, the 2022 sale of certain international distribution assets, and a rumored deal for a stake in a premium sports package. According to the article’s embedded link to a Paramount press release (see the link), the company claims that Paramount+ “is positioned to deliver fresh, original content that rivals the likes of Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.”

But Warren is not content to accept these claims at face value. The article references her own briefing notes (link: Warren’s Office Statement) that warn of “the systemic risks of a handful of conglomerates dominating the distribution of entertainment and news.” She highlights that Paramount’s new streaming platform sits amid an ecosystem already crowded with established giants, raising questions about whether Paramount’s ownership of legacy content will translate into a dominant market position that stifles competition.

Warren’s Testimony: Antitrust, Consumer Choice, and the Public Interest

In the hearing, Warren opened with a concise statement of principle: “When a handful of companies own most of the stories we tell, we risk a public narrative that is both narrow and unaccountable.” She went on to detail several points of concern:

1. Content Library Lock‑Ins – Paramount’s acquisition of CBS and Viacom content gives it an unrivaled archive. Warren notes that, “When the same few companies own the most watched movies and shows, they can dictate terms to advertisers, streaming platforms, and even television set‑top boxes.” She cites a 2019 study by the Brookings Institution that shows “major content libraries correlate strongly with higher subscription prices.”

2. Distribution Power – Paramount’s stake in CBS’s over‑the‑top (OTT) infrastructure and its involvement in satellite and cable agreements create a “dual‑channel” advantage. Warren argues that this can enable the company to “block competing services from reaching consumers in certain geographic regions.”

3. Regulatory Inertia – The article references a recent FCC report that found “little enforcement against media consolidation in the last decade.” Warren urges the committee to “strengthen the FCC’s authority to review and, if necessary, block mergers that threaten competition.”

4. Consumer Choice – In a particularly striking moment, Warren cites data from Nielsen (link: Nielsen Report 2023) that indicates “consumer subscription fatigue.” She warns that “over‑saturation of similar content offerings can actually erode the perceived value of each platform.”

Throughout her testimony, Warren punctuated her points with anecdotes about smaller studios that have struggled to break into the market because of Paramount’s leverage over distribution deals. She also referenced a 2022 lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) against a major media merger that “set a precedent for scrutinizing consolidation in the streaming space.”

The Broader Political Landscape: Antitrust Reform and the “Streaming Wars”

Warren’s remarks are part of a larger political narrative that has gained momentum in the last two years. The article notes that the House Judiciary Committee, led by Representative Jim Himes, recently introduced a bipartisan “Media Competition and Innovation Act,” which would establish a new antitrust task force to monitor media mergers. It also references the Senate’s ongoing “Stop Big Tech” hearings, where Warren has repeatedly called for “robust enforcement of the Sherman and Clayton Acts.”

Additionally, the article follows a link to a recent NPR piece that highlighted the “streaming wars” between Disney+, Apple TV+, and the new Paramount+. NPR’s analysis dovetails with Warren’s concerns, pointing out that “the market has become a zero‑sum game where a few companies profit at the expense of consumers and smaller creators.”

Potential Outcomes and Next Steps

While the article doesn’t predict a definitive outcome, it outlines several possible scenarios:

• FCC Review – If the FCC follows Warren’s recommendation, Paramount could face a formal antitrust inquiry that might require divestitures or a moratorium on its streaming expansion.

• Legislative Action – The bipartisan bill mentioned earlier could be introduced to the Senate floor, setting the stage for a formal antitrust hearing that would involve industry witnesses and data analysts.

• Market Pressure – Independent creators and smaller streaming services could use the public discourse to lobby for fairer distribution terms, potentially pushing Paramount to negotiate more favorable deals.

The article concludes by noting that “the Paramount competition hearing is a pivotal moment that will test whether the U.S. political system can hold large media conglomerates accountable in the era of digital streaming.” Warren’s call for increased scrutiny is not merely a partisan gesture; it reflects a growing consensus that the concentration of media power threatens democratic discourse, creative diversity, and consumer welfare.

For readers seeking deeper context, the article links to several primary sources: the official transcript of the Senate hearing, Warren’s press release, a recent FCC policy brief, and a Brookings Institution research paper. These documents collectively paint a picture of a media landscape in flux, with Paramount’s expansion at the center of a national debate about competition, regulation, and the future of storytelling.