Paramount/WBD Merger Delayed for Months by State Lawsuit
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have agreed to delay their merger until a judge rules on a lawsuit filed by a dozen states challenging the deal's legality.
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have agreed to a significant delay in their planned merger, halting the combination until a court rules on a lawsuit filed by several U.S. states. The companies are prevented from integrating their operations until the judge makes a decision on the case's merits.
Under a court filing, the states and companies agreed that the merger will not be completed until "five days after the merits determination in these matters," or by June 1, 2027, whichever comes first. The Writers Guild of America, which separately sued to block the deal, also agreed to the delay.
New York Attorney General Letitia James' office described the agreement as "a months-long halt" to the merger, calling the delay a "critical victory" in upholding the law and protecting the film and television industries.
If a ruling on the merits has not been made by June 1, 2027, the plaintiffs may seek a preliminary injunction to continue blocking the deal.