Paramount pushes $81 billion Warner deal to 2027 amid state challenge
What's next: The merger cannot close before a court ruling on the states' lawsuit or June 1, 2027, whichever comes first.
Paramount agreed Friday to delay closing its proposed $81 billion buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery until a judge rules on a lawsuit from 12 states or until June 1, 2027. The filing came days after U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín temporarily froze the deal for several weeks, finding the states had raised serious questions about whether the merger would reduce competition. California is leading the case to block the transaction, arguing the combination would shrink consumer choice in Hollywood, including for moviegoers and cable customers. New York Attorney General Letitia James called the pause a critical victory for workers, artists and families.