Bonta Says CNN Spin-Off Won’t End 12-State Paramount-WBD Suit
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 17
Bonta Says CNN Spin-Off Won’t End 12-State Paramount-WBD Suit
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 17
Summary
Rob Bonta said a CNN divestiture would “absolutely, 1,000%, no” resolve the 12-state lawsuit seeking to block Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
The California attorney general said the coalition wants structural remedies tied to three markets in its complaint—wide-release films, blockbuster theatrical releases and cable channels—and is ultimately seeking to stop the deal.
Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín heard arguments Friday on a temporary restraining order but delayed a decision until Wednesday, July 22; the companies expect a TRO could pause the merger for a couple of weeks.
Bonta said there are no settlement talks, dismissed behavioral remedies as unenforceable, and argued Paramount’s October ticking fee and reported threat to leave California were the company’s own choices, not grounds to weaken the case.
With the DOJ's blessing, can a state coalition actually block the $110 billion merger set to reshape Hollywood?
Why did federal and state regulators reach opposite conclusions on a merger that will reshape what you watch?
Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery Merger in Crisis: $110 Billion Deal Threatened by Antitrust Lawsuit and Financial Penalties
Overview
The Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger faces intense legal and regulatory scrutiny, as a coalition of 12 state attorneys general argues in federal court that the deal would harm competition and consumers. At the heart of their case is the concern that if one company controls half of all basic cable channels, it would gain excessive bargaining power, leading to higher prices and less choice. Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín is considering a Temporary Restraining Order, while the states also plan a longer-term legal challenge. The outcome will shape the future of media consolidation and competition in the entertainment industry.