Federal trial set for Paramount Warner merger March 2027

A federal antitrust trial to determine the fate of a proposed $110 billion merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance has been scheduled for March 2, 2027. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín in Oakland set the trial dates for March 2 through March 19, following an agreement by the parties to cancel a previously scheduled preliminary injunction hearing.

The merger, which would combine two of Hollywood's major studios, has received approval from the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division and the European Commission, as well as competition authorities in more than a dozen other countries. However, a coalition of 12 state attorneys general, led by California's Rob Bonta, filed a lawsuit in July 2026 seeking to block the deal. The states argue the merger would unlawfully concentrate power in theatrical film distribution and basic cable channels, leading to higher prices for consumers, fewer choices, and job losses.

"Ultimately, this is about protecting the vibrancy of an industry, the pockets of consumers, and the quality of films and television programs that take center stage in many of our lives," Bonta said in a statement. The other states...