Judge orders Paramount and Warner merger to halt for 2 weeks, granting states’ request Christine Samra Mon, July 20, 2026 at 8:06 PM UTC 0 A federal judge on Monday ordered Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery to halt their $81 billion merger for at least two weeks. This is to allow states that are challenging the deal more time to see their case through in court. Last week, 12 states sued to block Paramount’s pending buyout of Warner. The move is being led by California.
Judge orders Paramount and Warner merger to halt for 2 weeks, granting states’ request
Christine Samra Mon, July 20, 2026 at 8:06 PM UTC
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A federal judge on Monday ordered Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery to halt their $81 billion merger for at least two weeks. This is to allow states that are challenging the deal more time to see their case through in court.
Last week, 12 states sued to block Paramount’s pending buyout of Warner. The move is being led by California. The states claim that the merger would “extinguish competition” in Hollywood and lead to fewer choices for consumers, particularly moviegoers and cable customers across the U.S.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta requested that the merger not close until after a judge fully evaluated their claims. When the two media giants refused, the states filed a restraining order, which was granted by District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín on Monday.
The temporary restraining order pumps the brakes on the deal for 14 days, but it could be extended up to 28 days. An Aug. 3 hearing has been set for the states’ preliminary injunction motion; however, that could be pushed back.
“This is a critical first win in our case to ensure this megamerger never sees the light of day,” Bonta said in a statement. “History tells the tale of what happens when a few people have great power over markets that are central to Americans’ lives: fewer opportunities for more people, worse products and services for all people.”
The other states joining the Golden State in this lawsuit are Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington.
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The lawsuit alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which prohibits mergers that may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly.
The Writers Guild of America has also filed a lawsuit to block the merger.
In February, Paramount won the bid for the merger after Netflix pulled out.
KTLA 5 has reached out to Paramount and Warner Bros. about the pause.
The contributed to this report.
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Source: "AOL Money"
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Published: July 21, 2026 at 12:19AM on Source: RED MAG
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