Twelve States File Lawsuit to Block Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

A coalition of 12 states, led by California, has filed a lawsuit against Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery in an effort to prevent a $111 billion merger that was approved by the Trump administration last month. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the merger would result in higher prices, lower quality, and reduced content for film and television, ultimately affecting movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and audiences across the United States. The merger would combine two major movie studios and integrate the streaming services Paramount+ and HBO Max. Previously, Netflix had a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming and movie studio businesses, but Paramount successfully executed a hostile takeover with support from the Trump administration.