By Lisa Richwine
LAS VEGAS, April 16 (Reuters) - Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison promised movie theater owners on Thursday that the company will keep its commitment to release at least 30 films per year if regulators clear the proposed $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros Discovery.
Cinema operators have voiced skepticism of Ellison's vow and called on regulators to block the deal.
"I wanted to look every single one of you in the eye and give you my word: Once we combine with Warner Bros, we are
going to make a minimum of 30 films annually across both studios," Ellison told thousands of cinema owners and executives packed into a theater at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas.
Ellison said Paramount had already demonstrated an ability to increase film output. The company, which was created when Paramount Global and Skydance Media merged last August, plans to release 15 movies this year, up from eight in 2025.
All of the films will play exclusively in theaters for a minimum of 45 days, Ellison said, drawing applause from the crowd. Theater operators have been pushing for a 45-day minimum across the industry.
"People can speculate all they want, but I am standing here today telling you personally that you can count on our complete commitment," he said. "And we'll show you we mean it."
Earlier this week, the head of industry trade group Cinema United told the convention that the combination of Paramount and Warner Bros would be harmful to the entertainment business and consumers.
"Unfortunately, history shows us that consolidation results in fewer films being produced for movie theaters," Cinema United President and CEO Michael O'Leary said.
(Reporting by Lisa RichwineEditing by Rod Nickel)
