Amazon's MGM Acquisition Could Still Be Blocked By FTC
Despite Amazon reportedly closing its $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM Studios last week, the Federal Trade Commission could still block the deal. The process, which began last May, would see Amazon acquiring the 98-year-old film production powerhouse, which amounts to around 4,000 film titles, 180 Academy Awards, and 17,000 episodes of TV. This would mean that Amazon would now own such storied properties as Rocky, Silence of the Lambs, Real Housewives, and MGM's sizeable share of the James Bond franchise, which has led to some speculation as to whether or not we could be seeing a Bond TV show sometime soon.
When dealing with acquisitions of this nature, however, it is vital that companies such as Amazon don't infringe on antitrust laws, put in place by institutions like the FTC and the EU. In the US, antitrust laws were first introduced at the beginning of the 20th century to stop monopolistic practices that might infringe on the rights of consumers and promote competition. The FTC, therefore, monitors acquisitions such as the Amazon-MGM deal in order to assess whether or not the merger of companies would create a monopoly. However, despite being given a mid-March deadline to block the deal, the FTC failed to file a legal challenge, therefore removing a roadblock preventing Amazon from signing the dotted line. This means then that the acquisition looks like a done deal especially after it received unconditional approval from the EU's antitrust regulator.
Related: Upcoming Movies & TV Shows Amazon Will Own After The MGM Deal
It might not be that simple, however, as according to Variety, the FTC may still block the acquisition if it believes it violates antitrust laws. In a statement released after the mid-March deadline
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