{"id":12577,"date":"2026-07-21T13:12:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T08:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=12577"},"modified":"2026-07-21T13:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T08:12:23","slug":"judge-pauses-paramount-warner-merger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=12577","title":{"rendered":"Judge pauses Paramount-Warner merger"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"anchor-d86919\" class=\"body-graf\">Paramount Skydance\u2019s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery hit a roadblock Monday when a federal judge paused the proposed merger, granting a request from a coalition of 12 state attorneys general who sued to thwart the $110 billion deal.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Subscribe to read this story ad-free<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-dfd749\" class=\"body-graf\">U.S. District Judge Araceli Mart\u00ednez-Olgu\u00edn of the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order barring Paramount from closing the transaction, a corporate tie-up that would unite two movie studios, two streaming platforms and two news organizations under the control of David Ellison, the son of billionaire technology tycoon Larry Ellison.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-05afc3\" class=\"body-graf\">Mart\u00ednez-Olgu\u00edn\u2019s order said the restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days. The judge, who is presiding over the case, scheduled an Aug. 3 hearing on the states\u2019 motion for a preliminary injunction, which would freeze the transaction while the legal process plays out.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-3e0539\" class=\"body-graf\">The plaintiffs, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/business\/media\/12-states-file-lawsuit-block-110-billion-paramount-warner-bros-merger-rcna587286\" target=\"_blank\">sued to block the merger July 13<\/a>, arguing in a 38-page complaint that it would \u201cextinguish competition\u201d in Hollywood.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-75384e\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cThe unlawful merger of these two entertainment behemoths would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and television, harming movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and ultimately, audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the U.S.,\u201d Bonta said in a statement accompanying the court filing.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-f0a34d\" class=\"body-graf\">Bonta and his fellow Democratic attorneys general contend that the transaction violates <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/atr\/merger-guidelines\/overview\" target=\"_blank\">Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914<\/a>, a federal law that bars mergers likely to substantially lessen competition.<\/p>\n<section class=\"inline-video inline-video--in-body inline-video--vertical-video\" data-testid=\"inline-video\" id=\"anchor-409003\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__background\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__player\">\n<div class=\"styles_gridStackWrapper__Z_AMc styles_verticalVideoContainer__AndXW vertical-video-container inline-article-vertical-video paused\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-testid=\"gamma-video-player\">\n<div class=\"info-layer styles_infoLayer__3khlf\">\n<p><span class=\"styles_caret__Aqe2z icon icon-play\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-testid=\"caret\"\/><span data-testid=\"card-duration\">01:30<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_controlContainer__XmNB0 styles_inlineVideo__unIwH\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Video controls\">\n<p class=\"styles_title__0GjQf styles_inlineVideoInitial__c2yet\">Paramount-Warner merger could affect entertainment options<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"styles_gradientOverlay__6My_d\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span aria-label=\"Elapsed time 00:00\">00:00<\/span><span aria-label=\"Remaining time 00:00\">00:00<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p id=\"anchor-afd95e\" class=\"body-graf\">The states argue the deal would reduce competition in three areas: wide-release theatrical film distribution, anticipated top-grossing movie distribution and the market for distributing basic cable channels to cable and satellite providers.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-ad8a0d\" class=\"body-graf\">Paramount has forcefully pushed back on those claims, arguing that the states\u2019 crusade is \u201cwrong on both the facts and the law\u201d and blasting the restraining order bid as \u201cone of the weakest merger challenges in modern antitrust history.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-7d54d3\" class=\"body-graf\">In response to a request for comment on the temporary restraining order, a Paramount spokesperson said in part: \u201cWe are confident the evidence will demonstrate that the state AGs\u2019 antitrust arguments are without merit as their alleged markets and claims of anticompetitive effects are without any basis in modern market realities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-81160b\" class=\"body-graf\">The company has already received regulatory clearance from the Justice Department, and it has touted similar approvals from other countries, including Australia and China.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-c81953\" class=\"body-graf\">Paramount executives are motivated to close the deal soon. That\u2019s partly because the company agreed to pay Warner Bros. shareholders a \u201cticking fee\u201d of 25 cents a share each quarter if the transaction isn\u2019t wrapped up by Sept. 30. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-0c5f00\" class=\"body-graf\">The potential penalty is worth more than $600 million per quarter.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-02b605\" class=\"body-graf\">Paramount owns a 114-year-old film studio, the Paramount+ streaming service, the CBS broadcast network and a suite of cable assets that includes MTV and Nickelodeon. Warner Bros. owns a 116-year-old film studio, the cable brands CNN and HBO and popular intellectual property such as the Batman and Superman franchises.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-5c4c13\" class=\"body-graf\">The state-driven lawsuit is the most significant threat to the deal since it was inked, though it is not the only hurdle standing in Paramount\u2019s way. The European Union\u2019s antitrust arm is reviewing the transaction, and the British culture secretary recently said she was \u201cminded to intervene\u201d in the deal, citing concerns about concentrated ownership of media enterprises.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-75fc16\" class=\"body-graf\">The merger has also drawn opposition from organized labor and a group of consumers. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-8e482f\" class=\"body-graf\">The Writers Guild of America filed its own antitrust suit, arguing that the deal would suppress members\u2019 wages and shrink the number of available jobs. Separately, a group of consumers filed an antitrust suit focused on the harms of combining Paramount+ and HBO Max. (Mart\u00ednez-Olgu\u00edn denied the consumer plaintiffs\u2019 request for a preliminary injunction to freeze the merger.)<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-857fbf\" class=\"body-graf\">In the states\u2019 antitrust case, California\u2019s Bonta was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico and Oregon. New York Attorney General Letitia James has said the merger \u201cthreatens to raise costs for consumers and put jobs and businesses nationwide at risk.\u201d <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-a13486\" class=\"body-graf\">The proposed deal has a political dimension. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison is an ally of President Donald Trump. Trump has praised the Ellison family and publicly called for new ownership of CNN. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to have CNN go in a normal path,\u201d Trump recently told the network\u2019s Jake Tapper in an on-air phone interview.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-15b476\" class=\"endmark body-graf\">The younger Ellison has already embarked on sweeping changes at CBS News, hiring opinion journalist Bari Weiss to overhaul \u201c60 Minutes\u201d and the network\u2019s evening news broadcast.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paramount Skydance\u2019s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery hit a roadblock Monday when a federal judge paused the proposed merger, granting a request from a coalition of 12 state attorneys general who sued to thwart the $110 billion deal. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. U.S. District&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-02\/260224-warner-brothers-discovery-paramount-ew-440p-527106.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12577","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12577","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12577"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12577\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12577"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}