The Alan Cumming-backed Block the Merger coalition has submitted evidence to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy urging the UK to block Paramount’s proposed $110 billion merger with Warner. The groups argue that the deal could reduce media plurality and restrict UK documentary-makers’ access to important news archives, affecting their ability to tell diverse stories.

The coalition includes the Archival Producers Alliance, International Documentary Association, Documentary Film Council and Democracy Defenders Fund. It says the combined company would become the UK’s third-largest linear broadcaster, before accounting for HBO Max’s growth, and would bring CNN and CBS News archives under one owner; Nandy is expected to decide whether to intervene from 1 September at the earliest, while the EU has approved the deal and 12 US states have sued to stop it.