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Rob Bonta and Paramount Representatives to Meet Monday to Discuss Settlement of $110 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery Acquisition

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and representatives from Paramount Skydance are scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss a potential settlement regarding the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The meeting follows a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 12 states, led by Bonta, which alleges the merger would reduce competition in theatrical film distribution and basic cable programming. Paramount has pushed for a settlement to avoid a March 2027 antitrust trial, as the company faces a "ticking fee" that begins to raise the price of the acquisition starting October 1. While Bonta has expressed openness to a resolution, he maintains that any agreement must include "robust structural remedies" to address antitrust concerns. The merger remains on hold under a court agreement, with Paramount having already secured regulatory clearance from 68 jurisdictions globally. Meanwhile, Paramount CEO David Ellison has considered relocating the company's headquarters out of California, a move that has prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to urge a pre-trial resolution to protect the state's reputation and employment.

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