Amazon Acquired MGM For $8.45 Billion

Amazon bought MGM for $8.45 billion and the sale is complete, without a public response from the FTC on whether or not it will challenge the deal. Reports have indicated for months that the FTC was considering a challenge, and The Wall Street Journal noted earlier this month that Amazon approved it had given the FTC all required information, setting a mid-month deadline that it would close the deal, with or without a response from the agency.

After initially refusing to comment on the deal’s closure, the FTC did send a statement. The FTC’s office of public affairs director, Lindsay Kryzak, says “The FTC does not comment on any particular matters. However, we reiterate that the Commission does not approve transactions and may challenge a deal at any time if it determines that it violates the law. Additionally, this summer the FTC announced that it will send pre-consummation warning letters in connection with deals it cannot fully investigate within the timelines established by the HSR Act. These letters alert merging parties that their transactions remain under investigation, and warn that consummation occurs at their own risk.”

The FTC did not comment on whether or not Amazon has received such a letter.

The European Union’s antitrust commission gave Amazon’s purchase the green light, noting the “transaction would raise no competition concerns,” as the “overlaps” between both companies are “limited.” Amazon seems to have taken that as approval enough and has closed the deal nearly a year after both companies first signed off on it.

Amazon’s landmark purchase of the entertainment giant behind James BondRockyThe Addams FamilyThe Handmaid’s Tale, and a host of other iconic shows and movies should help bolster Amazon’s existing Prime Video library. Amazon senior vice president Mike Hopkins said in a statement that “We welcome MGM employees, creators, and talent to Prime Video and Amazon Studios, and we look forward to working together to create even more opportunities to deliver quality storytelling to our customers.”

The addition of MGM’s massive collection — not to mention the possibility for more originals — may help Amazon’s streaming service get an edge on Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney’s family of services. As it stands, Prime subscribers pay a fee of $139 / year fee to gain access to the over 26,000 movies and 2,700 series available on Prime Video, along with other perks like free two-day shipping on any purchases from the site.

This news comes as other media giants are looking to stir things up in the streaming industry. Last year, AT&T reported that it’s merging WarnerMedia with Discovery in a move that contains shows from major networks including HBO, CNN, Cartoon Network, HGTV, TLC, Food Network, and more. The unification just got approved by the US government in February, and HBO Max and Discovery Plus will be merged into one app as a result.

Latest Posts

THE FIRST OMEN Releases 1970s-Inspired Trailer and Poster, Evoking Nostalgic Horror

The horror film The First Omen unveils a mesmerizing new trailer, transporting audiences back to the captivating allure of classic 1970s cinema while echoing the...

NATIONAL TREASURE 3 Still in the Works, Nicholas Cage Awaits Script

It's been nearly two decades since "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" graced theaters, and fans have long awaited news of a NATIONAL TREASURE 3...

Posts You Will Love

World’s Largest LEGO Model: 5.3m Piece X-Wing

LEGO unveiled the world’s largest LEGO model, a 1:1 replica of the LEGO® Star Wars™ X-Wing starfighter, in New York’s Times Square. The massive...

Latest articles

Related articles

Your Comments / What Do You Think ?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.