David EllisonChairman and CEO of Paramount, a Skydance The corporation took the war of words and his message across the pond on Thursday, publishing an open letter to the creative community Audiences in the UK With a set of commitments, the company should succeed in making the purchase Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which has A mega deal was struck to sell its studios and streaming businesses to Netflix. The list includes commitments to theatrical and home video, HBO preservation, and “increased creative output.”
Addressing the British creative community, fellow film lovers and television fans, the industry, and all those who care deeply about the future of film and the arts, the letter highlighted: “As a producer and lifelong fan of films and television, I am writing this open letter to speak clearly and unequivocally about the vital role visual narratives play in our society. They connect us through status, shared experience, they entertain us and They inspire, transport us to new worlds, preserve our history, and expand our sense of what is possible.
Ellison added: “This art form is essential – and it must be preserved and preserved for generations to come. At Paramount, these beliefs drive us and Warner Bros. Discovery to continue. We see an extraordinary opportunity to bring our two iconic companies together, allowing us to tell more stories, reach a wider audience and increase their impact. The full spectrum of filmmaking, content creation and theatrical exhibition An encouraging marketplace does not eliminate meaningful competition by creating a monopoly or dominant entity.”
He argued that a merged Paramount-WBD “is in stark contrast to Netflix’s path – this proposed combination is intended to strengthen competition by creating a more efficient and effective rival to the dominant platforms.”
Here’s a closer look at Ellison’s commitments in the open letter:
“Increased creative output.”
“Paramount Studios and Warner Bros. Studios each produce at least 15 high-quality films a year, for a group of at least 30 films a year — providing great entertainment to audiences while supporting sustainable job creation across the film and creative industries,” Ellison wrote. “We have already increased Paramount’s output from eight to 15 films since closing the Paramount-Skydance transaction last August.”
Third Party Content and Licensing.
“Both studios will continue to support a vibrant third-party ecosystem by licensing their films and shows across their own and third-party platforms, while remaining active buyers of content from third-party studios and independent producers,” the letter said.
Preserving HBO.
“HBO will continue to operate independently under our ownership, allowing us to create even more world-class content,” Ellison wrote.
Theater commitment.
“Each film will receive a full theatrical release worldwide with a minimum 45-day window before becoming available on paid Video-on-Demand (VOD), with the intention of taking 60-90 days or more to build audiences for our most successful releases,” Ellison’s open letter reads. “We adhere to the specific windows commitments we have in the geographies we operate in.”
Home video commitment.
“Following its theatrical run, each film will transition to the current industry standard home video window, securing paid video-on-demand prior to availability on subscription streaming services,” Ellison wrote.
