By Paul Sandle and Muvija M
LONDON, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Britain's government and its competition watchdog cleared Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on Thursday after David Ellison provided reassurances, leaving U.S. states led by California as the final major hurdle to the deal.
Ellison, Paramount Skydance's chief executive, offered legally binding guarantees of at least five years on programming commissioned in Britain and the independence of Britain's Channel 5 news, the government
said in letters to the companies.
That was sufficient to answer concerns raised by media minister Lisa Nandy, who said in June she could intervene in the deal and potentially order a public-interest investigation despite approvals from regulators in the United States, China and elsewhere.
Lawyers and analysts told Reuters last month that the threat of intervention was more likely aimed at securing commitments from Paramount rather than blocking the deal outright.
Paramount has now agreed that the combined group's linear and on-demand services in Britain would retain distinct editorial identities for five years, including children's TV channels Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.
Paramount-owned Channel 5 would continue to operate as a public service broadcaster until its licence expires at the end of 2034 and its news would remain editorially separate from CNN International and CBS News, the government said.
News archives, including CNN, CBS and Channel 5 news, would also remain available for bona fide licensees on standard commercial terms, it added.
Paramount also agreed that the deal would not result in a reduction in the number of people commissioning content in Britain, nor in any reduction in the quality and range of content commissioned.
The Competition and Markets Authority separately said the deal would not substantially lessen competition in movie distribution, children's TV channels and streaming services.
Paramount welcomed the CMA decision as an "important milestone" in closing the deal, while it said it was pleased it had agreed a path forward with the government.
The twin decisions spare the companies lengthy regulatory reviews in Britain, leaving litigation brought by U.S. states led by California as the principal remaining obstacle to closing the deal.
(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru and Paul Sandle and Muvija M in London; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala, William James and Tomasz Janowski)
