Story perspectives

DOJ Probes Five TV Networks for Possible Antitrust Violations

By Drooid · Oct 11, 2026, 6:02 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Justice Department is probing five major TV networks for possible antitrust violations.
The DOJ issued subpoenas on Oct 9 demanding pool communications and documents for the investigation.
ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News halted White House pool coverage after President Donald Trump’s Sep 18 ban.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the ban, with the restraining order set to expire Oct 13.

History

Historical Context

In July 1938 the Justice Department sued the major studios, prompting a 1940 consent decree that capped block booking at five films. The Supreme Court’s 1948 Paramount decision then ordered Paramount, Warner Bros., RKO, Columbia and United Artists to divest 39 theaters valued at about $10 million and outlawed block booking. Today regulators invoke that precedent in subpoenas to ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

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Story summary

The Justice Department is probing five major TV networks for possible antitrust violations.
The DOJ issued subpoenas on Oct 9 demanding pool communications and documents for the investigation.
ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News halted White House pool coverage after President Donald Trump’s Sep 18 ban.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the ban, with the restraining order set to expire Oct 13.

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