California calls Paramount's threat to leave the state 'blackmail'
Bonta says the $110 billion merger would concentrate film distribution and cable TV, and he cites a lawsuit already set for March 2027.
- On Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta published a guest column refuting claims that his antitrust lawsuit against the $110 billion Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery merger is politically motivated, accusing Paramount of "spearheading a public relations campaign to spin a narrative that is simply false."
- Representing a 12-state coalition, Bonta argues the merger violates the Clayton Antitrust Act by creating illegal concentration in film distribution and cable TV, controlling nearly one-third of theatrical motion picture distribution and cable channels.
- Paramount CEO David Ellison told executives last week he is prepared to relocate operations from California if settlement talks fail, while Bonta dismissed Paramount's proposed theater contracts as "completely unenforceable" in the antitrust case.
- Trial proceedings are scheduled for March 2, 2027, with Paramount facing a potential "ticking fee" payable to Warner Bros Discovery shareholders of $7 million per day starting October 1, totaling around $1.2 billion by trial's conclusion.
- Bonta has not publicly accepted any settlement terms, stating that any remedy must be "structural" rather than "behavioral" as the sides prepare for the upcoming court battle over the entertainment landscape.
44 Articles
44 Articles
Paramount threatens to leave California for blocking $110 billion merger with Warner Bros, state AG slams ‘blackmail’
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has reacted to reports that Paramount Skydance plans to leave the state amid uncertainty over merger with Warner Bros.
'Be prepared': MAGA-friendly media giant warned over sketchy merger
Democrats are gearing up to grill Paramount Skydance over its blockbuster $110 billion bid to swallow Warner Bros. Discovery — a merger that would put CNN under the thumb of the same MAGA-friendly executive who has overseen the controversial hollowing out of CBS.Paramount Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim, who once served as President Trump's antitrust chief during his first term, brushed off mounting political pressure Tuesday at Politico's Ca…
Paramount Considers Headquarters Move Amid Merger Legal Battle – channelnews
Paramount is reportedly preparing contingency plans to relocate its headquarters from California if efforts to resolve an ongoing legal dispute over its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery fail to progress. According to reports from Puck and Variety, chief executive David Ellison has told senior executives the company could move key operations to another US state if California Attorney General Rob Bonta does not enter settlement discu…
Paramount escalates threat to leave California as Dem AG's antitrust lawsuit stalls Warner Bros merger
Paramount CEO David Ellison threatens to relocate the studio out of California if AG Rob Bonta doesn't settle the antitrust lawsuit blocking the Warner Bros. Discovery merger by Oct. 1.
David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, warned that he will move the company's operations out of California if the merger with Warner Bros. is not completed by October 1, 2026. Pressure seeks an agreement with prosecutor Rob Bonta, who leads the antitrust lawsuit against Paramount. In that sense, David Ellison tries to avoid paying $7 million per day penalties to Warner Bros., who could exceed $1 billion if the trial extends until March 2027.The future…
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