Statement on the DOJ’s Suit to Block AT&T-Time Warner Merger

NEW YORK, NY (November 20, 2017) – The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) has issued the following statement on the Department of Justice’s suit to block the AT&T-Time Warner merger:

“The Writers Guild of America, East agrees with the U.S. Department of Justice that the proposed merger of AT&T and Time Warner should be blocked.  The entire media industry has been consolidating for a number of years, with very little interference from the agencies entrusted to preserve competition in the public interest.  The proposed merger would continue that dangerous trend, offering storytellers fewer opportunities to create and distribute content that informs and enlightens viewers.  It would leave the media industry with even fewer gatekeepers – a narrower range of people deciding what people watch.  This is not good for audiences and it’s not good for democracy.”

“Vertical integration can harm consumers and industries.  Concentration of economic power is not in the interests of the American people.  This merger should not go through.”

ABOUT WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA, EAST
The Writers Guild of America, East, AFL-CIO (WGAE) is a labor union representing writers in motion pictures, television, cable, digital media and broadcast news. The Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America, East, visit wgaeast.org.

###