ViacomCBS-Comcast talks on ice as companies await WarnerMedia-Discovery verdict

Bob Bakish

Talks of a partnership between Comcast and ViacomCBS have been put on hold.

According to sources cited by Forbes, the parties have grown increasingly concerned over the Biden administration’s plans to aggressively enforce antitrust laws. 

The report goes on to claim that the media giants are awaiting the administration’s reaction to the proposed merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery before resuming talks. 

Comcast and ViacomCBS are not planning a merger, but are looking at ways to work together, including a streaming partnership outside of the US.

The source said that the parties held talks in June about joining streaming services Peacock and Paramount+ together, with Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, ViacomCBS Chairwoman Shari Redstone and CEO Bob Bakish being involved in discussions about a Hulu-styled joint venture. 

The talks however are very much only on hold and both parties are interested, the source said, adding: “It wouldn’t shock me if later this fall, we got back into a discussion of whether there’s anything more that we can do together.”