{"id":7813,"date":"2026-05-02T01:24:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T01:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=7813"},"modified":"2026-05-02T01:24:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T01:24:25","slug":"hollywood-auctioned-off-to-middle-eastern-royalty-as-industry-struggles-to-survive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=7813","title":{"rendered":"Hollywood auctioned off to Middle Eastern royalty as industry struggles to survive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>A political firestorm is erupting over plans tied to a massive $111 billion media merger that could open the door for Gulf state investors to gain unprecedented influence over major Western media outlets.<\/p>\n<p>At the center of the controversy is a proposed takeover of Warner Bros by Paramount, a deal heavily backed by funding from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.<\/p>\n<p>Together, those nations are contributing $24 billion, making up the bulk of the equity financing, alongside $54 billion in new debt.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>An aerial view of the Paramount logo on the water tower at Paramount Studios. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A camel used for tourists sits on the beach in Dubai. <span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Paramount, run by 43-year-old David Ellison, has quietly asked the Federal Communications Commission to approve a waiver that would allow foreign ownership of up to 100%, while limiting voting power to 20%.<\/p>\n<p>Under current US law, overseas investors are capped at 25% ownership of companies holding broadcast licenses unless regulators rule otherwise in the \u201cpublic interest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The request has triggered fierce backlash, led by California Democrat Sam Liccardo, who blasted both the proposal and regulators.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-Calif. <span class=\"credit\">CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cCongress did not entrust the public airwaves to this agency so that it could auction off America to Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Doha. This will not stand,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Liccardo went further, warning: \u201cThe commission must not allow a legal technicality to launder what is, in substance, a surrender of American media and infrastructure to the hands of foreign authoritarian regimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the uproar, Paramount insists the concerns are overblown.<\/p>\n<p>The company argues the filing is routine and maintains that Gulf investors would remain passive, holding no voting shares, governance rights or board seats.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>California Post News<\/strong>: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn<br \/><strong>California Post Sports<\/strong> Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X<br \/><strong>California Post  <\/strong>Opinion <br \/><strong>California Post Newsletters<\/strong>: Sign up here!<br \/><strong>California Post App<\/strong>: Download here!<br \/><strong>Home delivery<\/strong>: Sign up here!<br \/><strong>Page Six Hollywood<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<p>Control of voting stock would remain entirely with the Ellison family and RedBird Capitial, according to Paramount. <\/p>\n<p>Still, critics aren\u2019t convinced, especially given that the combined company would include Warner, the parent of CNN, potentially giving foreign-backed investors greater sway over a major US news outlet.<\/p>\n<p>The deal also has international implications.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>In an aerial view, the Warner Bros. logo is displayed on the water tower at Warner Bros. Studio. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Paramount owns Channel 5 in the UK, where strict rules prohibit foreign state-controlled entities from holding broadcast licenses.<\/p>\n<p>British regulator Ofcom is expected to scrutinize the merger closely, including whether new owners meet \u201cfit and proper\u201d standards and whether media plurality could be affected, the Telegraph reported. <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the UK\u2019s Competition and Markets Authority has already begun early-stage reviews, with a European Commission filing expected soon.<\/p>\n<p>The controversy is compounded by additional foreign ties.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Cali - Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia&#8217;s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Plans include a stake for Chinese tech giant Tencent, which Liccardo noted is designated by the US as a military-linked company with ties to the Communist Party.<\/p>\n<p>Hollywood itself is pushing back.<\/p>\n<p>Labor unions and high-profile actors like Robert De Niro and Glenn Close have joined opposition efforts, raising alarms about foreign influence and potential job cuts.<\/p>\n<p>Paramount has already outlined $6 billion in planned cost reductions at Warner, fueling fears of layoffs in an industry already under severe strain. <\/p>\n<p>The Ellison family has pledged to backstop the full $47 billion equity portion of the deal if foreign funding falls through.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance. <span class=\"credit\">Chris Pizzello\/Invision\/AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>David Ellison\u2019s father, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, worth an estimated $213 billion, has also drawn attention for his close ties to Donald Trump, which Paramount has touted as a potential regulatory advantage.<\/p>\n<p>Paramount argues the merger would strengthen competition and expand opportunities for creatives and consumers alike.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; 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