A dozen states, led by California, filed a federal lawsuit to block Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing it would reduce competition, raise prices, lower content quality, and harm consumers across film, TV, and streaming markets. The merger would consolidate major studios, streamers (Paramount+ and HBO Max), sports and news divisions—including CNN—and numerous cable networks under the control of Paramount’s Ellison family, who have close ties to former President Trump. California AG Rob Bonta cited “red flags” in the deal, including massive new debt ($80 billion) and investment from sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, warning against what he called a “rigged market.”
Original Article Source Link:
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/13/nx-s1-5879286/paramount-warner-bros-discovery-lawsuit