States Demand Tougher Terms as Paramount Merger Talks Intensify

WHO:

Variety - California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading a coalition of 12 state attorneys general in antitrust litigation against Paramount's merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

latimes.com - Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) have publicly opposed the merger.

latimes.com - New York Attorney General Letitia James and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong have expressed reservations about the proposed settlement.

WHAT:

Variety - Settlement talks between Paramount and the state attorneys general are ongoing, with no resolution reached.

latimes.com - Paramount's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is valued at $111 billion.

latimes.com - Paramount plans to demand that U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín require the states and the Writers Guild of America to post a $1.88 billion bond.

latimes.com - A rally is planned outside Bonta’s offices in Oakland to encourage him to resist settling the lawsuit.

WHERE:

Variety - The settlement talks are taking place in California.

latimes.com - The rally is planned outside Bonta’s offices in Oakland, California, and subsequent demonstrations are planned outside James’ office in New York City and the Paramount lot in Hollywood.

WHEN:

latimes.com - Paramount's lawyers plan to make their demand to Judge Martínez-Olguín on Thursday.

latimes.com - The merger is expected to be finalized by October 1, when Paramount is obligated to make a higher payout to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders.

WHY:

latimes.com - Critics argue that the merger would give Paramount too much power over the film and TV industries.

latimes.com - State politicians are concerned about the potential loss of jobs in California's film industry.

HOW:

latimes.com - Bonta and Paramount have discussed including a condition in any settlement that would require Paramount to keep its operations in California for a set period.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 02:11 UTC)

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading a coalition of 12 state attorneys general in antitrust litigation against Paramount's proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, with ongoing settlement talks that have yet to reach a resolution. As part of the legal proceedings, Paramount plans to demand that U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín require the states and the Writers Guild of America to post a $1.88 billion bond, while a rally is set to take place outside Bonta’s offices in Oakland to encourage him to resist settling the lawsuit. Critics of the merger are concerned it could give Paramount excessive control over the film and TV industries, prompting discussions about conditions that would require the company to maintain its operations in California for a specified period.