Judge Clears Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery Merger in Landmark Antitrust Settlement

A federal judge formally approved the antitrust settlement between Democratic state attorneys general and Paramount Skydance, clearing the final obstacle for the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Paramount is legally bound to produce 30 to 32 films over the next five years, with a mandated portion produced domestically in the U.S. The agreement forces the new conglomerate to negotiate cable packages separately for their respective channels. An "independent editorial board" will be established to oversee both CNN and CBS News under the unified corporate structure. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin dismissed outside film industry objections and requests for delay from Sen. Cory Booker, noting the consent decree prevents the expense of a prolonged trial. "But these hopes and desires for the proposed consent decree to reach farther – to achieve more – do not rise to the level of legal violations upon which the Court can reject the parties’ negotiated resolution." — Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin