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Paramount/WBD merger conditions give the public "virtually nothing," judge is told

  • On Thursday, the Block the Merger coalition filed an emergency motion in California federal court, asking U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín for an opportunity to formally oppose the settlement between Paramount and 12 state attorneys general.
  • California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other states settled their antitrust lawsuit on Monday, securing commitments for theatrical film output and editorial boards to address competition concerns regarding the $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
  • Critics, including the Freedom of the Press Foundation, characterized the agreement as "weak and unenforceable," arguing the proposed editorial boards are "worthless" and fail to protect independent journalism from corporate consolidation.
  • During a virtual hearing Thursday, Judge Martínez-Olguín addressed outstanding questions regarding the consent decree's legal underpinnings and granted the coalition an opportunity to file briefs by 12:01 a.m. PT Friday.
  • Opposition groups warn the merger could harm democracy and free press, while Paramount insists the deal is "presumptively valid," asserting that commitments preserve competition and provide necessary investment in domestic film production.
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The Desk broke the news on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
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