On 7/13/2026 at 8:46 PM, janea4old said:

July 13, 2026: California and 11 other states states sue to block Paramount’s $110 billion Warner Bros Discovery deal
https://www.reuters.com/world/urgent-california-11-states-suing-block-paramounts-110-billion-warner-bros-deal-2026-07-13/


July 13, 2026: U.S. states tap private law firm Milbank to fight Paramount-Warner Bros deal
https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/us-states-tap-private-law-firm-milbank-fight-paramount-warner-bros-deal-2026-07-13/
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the state hired Milbank, a major corporate firm, because "we need ⁠the firepower." He said California expected to face "an army of high-powered private attorneys" from Paramount.

California AG Rob Bonta

UPDATES:

These are the twelve states states joining the lawsuit: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Washington.
https://apnews.com/article/paramount-warner-bros-antitrust-ce87c4c10c956cbb5d98cdc7e954126b

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July 14, 2026: WGA (Writers Guild of America) files their own lawsuit against Paramount / Warner Bros Discovery merger.
Filed jointly by WGA-East and WGA-West.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/wga-sues-over-paramount-warner-bros-discovery-merger-1236982226/
They filed on the grounds that it violates federal antitrust law and would cause specific harm to writers. The complaint lays out how the merger would reduce opportunities for writers as well as lead to lower pay and worse working conditions. The main focus here is labor issues.

a merger would generate irreparable harm in that it would be “virtually impossible to unwind and would render any eventual divestiture remedy ineffective.” The WGA legal team also wrote that the “balance of equities” favors an injunction “because of the public interest in preserving competition, and the imminent threat of writers suffering competitive harm from lost employment opportunities, suppressed compensation, and narrowed creative possibilities that would result from the Transaction. Moreover, any harm Defendants may suffer from delayed closing is ‘self-inflicted’ as a result of their own bargained-for agreement.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2kyyeyeklo
WGA head Tom Fontana said that the merged company would have "tremendous power to suppress our wages" and "eliminate opportunities for emerging writers".

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July 22, 2026: WGA (Writers Guild of America) seeks preliminary injunction to halt Paramount / Warner Bros Discovery merger. They want their WGA case timing to be aligned with the timing of the lawsuits by the Attorneys General of the twelve states.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/writers-guild-paramount-warner-bros-lawsuit-1237000083/
For the states AG case, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín on Monday July 20 granted state AGs a temporary restraining order that paused the transaction for 14 days. She set a hearing of August 3 for a hearing on the states’ motion for preliminary injunction, which would prevent the merger from closing in a longer term, perhaps until an appeal or trial. The WGA wants their case to align with that timing.

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updated July 23, 2026:
Paramount formally filed seeking "3-day evidentiary hearing" to be held the week of August 17 or August 24, which Deadline says would essentially be a mini-trial.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/paramount-warner-bros-state-attorney-general-lawsuit-1237000888/

Hanging over all of this is the date of Sept. 30, after which Paramount will owe a $7 million per day “ticking fee” to Warner Bros. Discovery if the deal is not closed by then. Paramount’s legal team, led by Jeffrey Kessler, noted that in their latest brief, writing that a preliminary injunction would create “commercial uncertainty regarding the transaction and cost Paramount well over $1 billion in ticking fees and other additional costs.”
(note that this is a $110 billion deal).

The judge set a briefing schedule in which the state AGs opening brief due on Thursday, and the company response is due on Monday. The state AG reply is due on July 30. Paramount’s legal team proposed a schedule in which opening briefs would be filed on July 28, the company reply on August 7 and the AG response on August 12.

The state AGs indicated their opposition to the change in schedule, arguing that Paramount now seeks to “upend” it “at the eleventh hour.”
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Edited Thursday at 08:21 PM2 days by janea4old

Summarizing key points in above post
re: legal case within the USA, June/July 2026:

• June 17, 2026: U.S. Department of Justice clears Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros (Reuters link)

• Attorneys General of 12 states filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the merger, claiming the deal would create a media behemoth with the power to raise prices in film and television. They also filed for a preliminary injunction to immediately block the merger while they pursue the antitrust lawsuit.
  
  

• WGA (Writers Guild of America) filed a separate lawsuit against the merger, claiming that it would impact jobs for writers, and they filed a request that their suit happen with the same timing as the suit from the state AGs.

  
  

• Paramount is whining because they would lose money if the merger is delayed beyond deadline of Sept. 30, after which Paramount will owe a $7 million per day “ticking fee” to Warner Bros. Discovery if the deal is not closed by then.
  (note: This is a $110 billion deal.)

  
  

• There have been several filings and counter-filings regarding the dates of various injunctions, hearings, etc., so the dates keep changing. Various dates in July and August.

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update July 23, 2026: Judge granted motion to delay from August 3rd to August 17th per the request of the states AGs
https://apnews.com/article/warner-bros-paramount-injunction-361fa669019e0053cf6d4513e6e275e3

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Edited 23 hours ago23 hr by janea4old

47 minutes ago, janea4old said:

• Paramount is whining because they would lose money if the merger is delayed beyond deadline of Sept. 30, after which Paramount will owe a $7 million per day “ticking fee” to Warner Bros. Discovery if the deal is not closed by then.
  (note: This is a $110 billion deal.)

Gee, it sounds like maybe this merger isn't worth pursuing after all?

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Meanwhile, this merger on the international front:
Paramount/Skydance is international; so the merger needs approval in other locations, in addition to USA.

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China
June 17, 2026: Chinese regulators clear Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros Discovery merger, Reuters source says
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/paramount-ready-sell-universal-pictures-jvaarner-deal-source-says-2026-06-24/

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This article from Reuters June 24, 2024
says the global deal has been cleared by China, Australia, Germany, France, and Saudi Arabia (and U.S. Dept. Justice).
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/uk-minded-intervene-paramounts-110-billion-warner-bros-discovery-deal-2026-06-30/

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in the UK

June 30, 2026:
UK may intervene in $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery deal
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/uk-minded-intervene-paramounts-110-billion-warner-bros-discovery-deal-2026-06-30/
Lisa Nandy is the Secretary of Culture in the UK.
Lisa Nandy said that the merger could have an impact on news, children's television and streaming services in Britain.

UK SETS JULY 6 DEADLINE FOR RESPONSES

Paramount owns Britain's Channel 5, a free-to-air broadcaster, while Warner owns CNN International.

Channel 5's news is provided by ITN, a third-party news organisation that also serves its two bigger rivals ITV and Channel 4.

Other businesses that the UK government said could be affected include streaming services Paramount+ and HBO Max, and TNT Sports, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.

Nandy said children's TV could be particularly affected because Paramount and Warner were the second and third biggest providers of children's linear content in Britain, behind the BBC.

She noted Paramount's assurances that it had no plans to make big changes to Warner's TV channels and streaming services in Britain, but she said any consolidation would "potentially lead to a loss of a significant presence in an already limited market for children's linear content".

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Then there was a time of "pause" regarding all of this in the UK, as there was a summer break in the UK government proceedings, plus a new UK prime minister selection/installment process.
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Update: July 21, 2026
Lisa Nandy remains Culture Minister under the new Prime Minister.
Not yet announced whether or not to intervene with Paramount merger.
https://deadline.com/2026/07/uk-culture-secretary-lisa-nandy-andy-burnham/-1236998244

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in the EU
For the EU, the European Commission acts as "EU competition enforcer", and they expressed some concerns.
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June 24, 2026
Paramount ready to sell Universal Pictures JV for Warner deal, to address EU antitrust concerns
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/paramount-ready-sell-universal-pictures-jv-warner-deal-source-says-2026-06-24/

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reported July 1, 2026: A person with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters last week that Paramount would propose ditching its film ‌distribution ⁠joint venture with Universal Pictures to allay antitrust concerns voiced by European cinema operators.
https://www.reuters.com/world/paramount-offers-remedies-warner-deal-making-eu-approval-likely-2026-07-01/

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July 22, 2026: The European Commission has approved the merger. Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery gets EU greenlight
https://deadline.com/2026/07/paramount-warner-bros-eu-approval-1236999973/

In today’s decision, the European Commission did not find the merger posed undue pressure on film production, or “audiovisual” channels. There are a sufficient number of film studios in the European Economic Area to compete with a merged Paramount-WBD, it said. ticking off U.S. majors Disney, Universal and Sony, other players like Amazon MGM, A24 and Lionsgate, and European studios.

As for “the AV value chain,” the Commission said its investigation showed “enough alternative competitors remain to exert sufficient competitive pressure on the merged entity in the EEA.” That includes pay TV channels for kids, where it found that “streaming platforms offering children’s content will continue to act as a competitive constraint on the merged entity’s TV channels.”

MORE on EU

July 22, 2026: European Union gives its greenlight to Paramount and Warner’s mega merger with some conditions
https://apnews.com/article/paramount-warner-bros-europe-approval-87281ccde5b411f87d253e41c43c776e

But the greenlight comes with certain conditions.

The European Commission — which serves as the EU's antitrust enforcer — said that even with a Paramount-Warner combo, enough competitors would exist across markets like film production and streaming in its 27-nation bloc. Still, when it comes to distributing movies to theaters, the Commission warned of high concentration that could lead to "worse rental and distribution terms for cinema operators, ultimately disadvantaging consumers."

To address this, the Commission said Skydance-owned Paramount agreed to end its European Economic Area stake in United International Pictures — a longstanding venture with another major studio, Universal, that Paramount has used to distribute films in theaters outside North America. The company must end that partnership within 13 months of closing its Warner acquisition, the Commission said, and not enter any new agreements with Universal for the next 10 years.

Among other terms, current distribution of Warner films must be shifted to the same pipeline Paramount is using in these European countries. The European Commission said its approval was conditional on the company's commitments and that it would monitor their implementation, without expanding further on how that would be enforced.
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Edited Thursday at 03:54 PM2 days by janea4old

The merger and Canada

From Barry Hertz,
one of the Arts and Film Editors for Canada's "Globe and Mail".
He attended "CinemaCon"
(movie theatres/ movie studios convention, Las Vegas, April 12-16 2026).
David Ellison of Paramount-Skydance spoke.
Barry Hertz of globeandmail filed various reports regarding what he learned about Paramount while at CinemaCon.

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https://bsky.app/profile/deadline.com/post/3mjg6jyhs2g2b Deadline
April 13, 2026
Paramount responds to letter from Hollywood figures, says WBD merger will ensure creatives have “more avenues for their work, not fewer”
https://deadline.com/2026/04/paramount-warner-bros-merger-creatives-letter-1236859235/

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https://x.com/HertzBarry/status/2043738149629939897
Barry Hertz
April 13, 2026
FWIW, I can confirm Canada’s Competition Bureau is reviewing proposed transaction between Paramount & Warner Bros. Standard kicking of tires for any large merger — we’ll see if it results in any conditions, as Cdn market is notably different (cleaner, really) than US and Europe…

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Full article

https://bsky.app/profile/hertzbarry.bsky.social/post/3mkajgorwfs2k
Barry Hertz
Apr 24, 2026
David Ellison's mission, should Hollywood choose to accept it: Remake Paramount, before the film industry self-destructs. My deep dive from #CinemaCon on the M&A madness gripping the movie biz, and the drama's political undercurrents, for theglobeandmail.com

"Mission improbable: CEO David Ellison is all-in to remake Paramount before the film industry self-destructs"
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-david-ellison-hollywood-paramount-netflix-warner-bros-entertainment/
(long in-depth article detailiing past mergers and the reaction of the movie theatre group to the idea of this merger.)

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https://bsky.app/profile/hertzbarry.bsky.social/post/3mkdlsrd63c2t
Barry Hertz
Apr 25, 2026

A mini-scoop included in my @theglobeandmail.com
"Report on Business" cover story today:
Sources inside Bell Media say that Crave’s HBO/Warner Bros. content is safely positioned in a deal lasting “well into the next decade,” no matter if Paramount acquires WBD or not.

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https://x.com/HertzBarry/status/2046997776869839158
Barry Hertz
April 22, 2026
"Warner Bros. is the most exhibitor-friendly major studio, offering straight percentage splits rather than costly per-title minimums demanded by others": @cinemaincanada issues letter to Competition Bureau warning what may be lost in Paramount/WB merger.
(Link to letter)

https://x.com/cinemaincanada/status/2047289554802286813
April 22, 2026
NICE (Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors)
@cinemaincanada

We welcome the @CompBureau 's decision to open its investigation into the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance.

Read our open letter here:

From: NICE
Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors
Réseau d'exploitants canadiens indépendants

Open letter to the Competition Bureau of Canada: Review of Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery

https://www.nicecinema.ca/2026/04/22/open-letter-to-the-competition-bureau-of-canada-review-of-paramount-skydances-proposed-acquisition-of-warner-bros-discovery/

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UPDATE:

https://x.com/HertzBarry/status/2079254410165645566

https://bsky.app/profile/hertzbarry.bsky.social/post/3mr3slmcdek2o

Barry Hertz of the Globe and Mail
Jul 20, 2026

NEW: Canada's Competition Bureau has concluded its review of Paramount Skydance's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and ... issued a "No Action Letter," meaning the bureau has no intention of challenging the merger. California, we are not.

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Edited 23 hours ago23 hr by janea4old

July 24, 2026:
Paramount-Skydance agrees to HOLD on merger
until five days after a trial is held or June 1, 2027, whichever is earlier.

Associated Press article

Variety article

Reuters article

Friday July 24: Paramount-Skydance entered a joint stipulation in the federal case on Friday afternoon agreeing not to close the $111 billion transaction until five days after a trial is held or June 1, 2027, whichever is earlier. No trial date has been set, but the agreement likely puts the merger on hold for at least several months. Meanwhile the judge continues to consider a challenge from 12 states seeking to block the deal altogether.

Unlikely that the trial will start in 2026, so the process likely delayed until 2027.

Paramount issued a statement claiming this delay as a win for themselves.

WGA (Writers Guild of America) has withdrawn their motion to be considered alongside the states with the August 3rd deadline; since that Aug. 3 deadline is now gone. But WGA is still party to the overall lawsuit.

statements from California State Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York State Attorney General Letitia James

Edited 22 hours ago22 hr by janea4old

https://deadline.com/2026/07/paramount-warner-bros-discovery-lawsuit-1237002761/
In their filing in federal court on Friday, the attorneys for the parties wrote, “The transaction at issue in State of California and Writers Guild shall not close, be consummated, or otherwise be completed and Defendants will not take any steps, directly or indirectly, to integrate or consolidate their operations pursuant to the Transaction until the earlier of (1) five days after the merits determination in these matters, or (2) June 1, 2027. This stipulation and order extends to Defendants’ agents, officers, servants, employees, attorneys, and other persons who are in active concert or participation with Defendants.”

Joint WGA statement on the agreement
WGA West
https://bsky.app/profile/wgawest.bsky.social/post/3mrgbrmak7d24
WGA East
https://bsky.app/profile/wgaeast.bsky.social/post/3mrgd7l6nbk2a
"Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery today agreed to what the state Attorneys General and the WGA both sought from the court: the merger will be put on hold pending the outcome of the states’ and the WGA’s cases or until June 1, 2027, whichever comes first. It remains our view that this merger is unlawful, and we will continue the fight to block it. "

Full text of the July 24, 2026 legal agreement
https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/190950cf-3b9e-4005-8c49-87697cc0f14f.pdf

Yeah, it sounds to me like Paramount thought again about that "ticking clock fee," lol.