Paramount, California AG to Meet on Warner Bros. Merger Settlement

Paramount representatives are scheduled to meet with California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office on Monday, August 24, 2026, to discuss a potential settlement of the state's antitrust lawsuit seeking to block Paramount's $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The meeting, which was requested by Paramount, comes as both sides prepare for a trial scheduled to begin on March 2, 2027, and as a significant financial penalty looms for Paramount if the deal is delayed.

The talks are set to include senior executives and lawyers from each side but are described as preliminary, with no guarantee they will lead to a meaningful settlement. The meeting is a response to a lawsuit filed in July by Bonta leading a coalition of 12 state attorneys general, alongside a parallel suit from the Writers Guild of America (WGA). The plaintiffs argue the merger, which would create a media powerhouse combining major movie studios, streaming services, and news outlets like CNN and CBS News, would illegally reduce competition in theatrical distribution and basic cable television.

A key point of contention is the form any settlement would take. Bonta has repeatedly stated he would only agree to...