Paramount Nears Antitrust Settlement With State AGs Over Warner Bros. Discovery Deal

Paramount is in advanced talks with state attorneys general to settle the antitrust lawsuit blocking its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, but several Democratic states remain holdouts, sources said. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leading the 12-state coalition, has pressed for a settlement. New York Attorney General Letitia James is resisting current terms and seeking added worker protections, while Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and at least two other states also withhold support, seeking further remedies, including preserving CNN and CBS News independence. Absent a deal, the case heads to trial in California in March 2027, potentially jeopardizing the transaction. Reported concessions include independent content monitoring of CNN, theatrical release commitments, and temporary separation of the two film studios. Bonta said he would insist on structural remedies such as cable channel divestitures. The Block the Merger Coalition announced protests in Los Angeles and New York.