Advocacy
Broken Promises: Media Mega-Mergers and the Case for Antitrust Reform
This report from the WGAW shines a light on failed antitrust policy through a review of five mega-mergers in the media and telecommunications industry: Comcast and NBCUniversal; AT&T and DirecTV; AT&T and Time Warner; Charter, Time Warner Cable and Bright House; and Disney and Fox. Each case study details the history and aftermath of these mergers, contrasting the companies’ promises of consumer benefits and pro-competitive outcomes with the post-merger realities, including higher prices, reduced choices, and harms to writers. The report concludes with policy recommendations to reform the merger review process and increase antitrust enforcement efforts. Released December 2021.
NEW - Broken Promises Bulletin: How the Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Hurts Workers and Diversity
This follow-up to the original report focuses on the 2022 Discovery WarnerMedia merger and includes testimony from writers whose projects were cancelled as a result. Released January 2023.