NOW PLAYING
Paramount said on Friday that it has agreed to delay the company’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery amid a pending lawsuit from twelve state attorneys general to block this merger.
The company and the attorneys general said in a court filing that both sides have agreed to halt the merger until a judge’s ruling or until June 2027 at the latest. This decision follows California Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín’s Monday decision to grant state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s request for a two-week pause on this acquisition while the court weighs claims of antitrust violations.
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), who was part of a coalition with 11 other state attorneys general who sued Paramount over this merger, celebrated the pause in a statement.
“From the workers and artists who bring stories to life to the families who buy tickets at the box office, Paramount’s illegal takeover of Warner Bros. is a bad deal for all those who count on a competitive entertainment industry,” James said. “Halting this merger while our case proceeds is a critical victory in our efforts to uphold the law and protect the film and television industries. I look forward to continuing our case to stop this illegal merger.”
A Paramount spokesperson called this new agreement “a significant win” in a statement shared with The Hill on Friday, saying it gives the company “a direct path to a trial based on the evidence.”
“This is the fastest and clearest way to prove that this transaction is good for competition, good for consumers, and good for creators, a conclusion dozens of competition authorities around the world have already reached,” the spokesperson said. “Plaintiffs’ market definitions bear no relationship to the realities of today’s marketplace and cannot withstand scrutiny. We look forward to proving our case at trial.”
The Hill’s Dominick Mastrangelo contributed reporting.
Add as preferred source on Google Tags California Letitia James Letitia James New York Paramount Rob Bonta Warner Bros. DiscoveryCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments: Link copiedMore Media News
See All
Court Battles DOJ will withdraw subpoenas against New York Times journalists over Air Force One reporting by Sophie Brams 1 day ago Court Battles / 1 day ago 
