Many in Hollywood are worried about how Donald Trump’s election might impact the entertainment industry. And with good reason: Trump’s presidency might upend taxation, foreign relations, labor policy and more.
AT&T/Time Warner merger
During the campaign, Trump vowed to block this corporate marriage, the brainchild of AT&T boss Randall Stephenson. If Trump makes good on that threat, the merger could be toast, and so could a much-anticipated wave of further consolidation.
Net Neutrality
Trump has been a vocal opponent of net neutrality, which has regulated Internet service providers. Many industry veterans expect Trump to move to gut telecom regulation.
FCC
Chairman Tom Wheeler will likely have his hands full with Trump, who in 2015 urged the commission to fine a critic who had ridiculed him on Fox News.
China
Trump has complained that unfair trade deals have benefited China and hurt American workers. Protectionist moves could spark a trade war and imperil Hollywood investment in China.
Piracy
The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal includes tough penalties for piracy. Hollywood studios see such efforts as vital to their business. But Trump isn’t a fan of TPP, so anti-piracy efforts may have to come from another direction.
News media
It’s no secret that Trump isn’t a fan of journalists. Now CNN, NBC and other news organizations will have to watch closely to see if Trump follows through on promises to change libel laws and make it easier to sue journalists.
Labor issues/tax credits
The boss of the IATSE union issued a blistering takedown of Trump the day after the election, predicting “severe consequences” for Hollywood’s rank-and-file workers.
Facebook & fake news
Some Democrats are angry that the social media site co-created by Mark Zuckerberg may have facilitated Trump’s rise by spreading bogus stories about alleged Hillary Clinton malfeasance. Newsgathering organizations may reevaluate their social-media plans as a result.
Liberal Hollywood
Ever-liberal Hollywood was firmly behind Hillary Clinton’s White House bid, and now it’s entirely possibly that a vengeful President Trump — a reality TV-fixture since his “Apprentice” days — will look for payback.
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