Paramount delays $81 billion Warner deal until court fight plays out
What's next: The companies cannot close before a ruling on the states' lawsuit or before June 1, 2027.
Paramount agreed Friday to delay closing its $81 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery until a federal 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, finding the states had raised serious competition concerns. California is leading the case, which argues the merger would reduce competition in Hollywood and leave consumers with fewer choices, especially at the box office and on cable. Paramount, which was acquired by Skydance last year, framed the delay as the quickest route to a trial on the merits.