Every signal in this story, with the reporting each one was drafted from.
The Ankler’s Lesley Goldberg reports that California AG Rob Bonta says any settlement requires “structural remedies”: Ellison cannot keep all 50 cable networks the WBD deal would hand him — some must be sold.
Aug 27The Hollywood Reporter’s Joseph M. Singer reports that Unions, exhibitors and politicians all want a negotiated Paramount-WBD settlement. A THR analysis flags the contradiction: the financing needs more than $6 billion in synergies, and the protections everyone wants would block those same savings.
Aug 27CNBC’s Lillian Rizzo reports that Paramount’s $110B WBD deal is on hold until mid-2027 amid a state attorneys general antitrust suit, even after clearing federal and global regulators. Executives now warn the state-level threat could stall other pending media combinations.
Aug 25Awful Announcing’s Drew Lerner reports that California AG Rob Bonta will ask Paramount CEO David Ellison to divest cable channels and keep the studio separate from Warner Bros. as conditions to settle the 12-state antitrust suit over the $110B WBD deal.
Aug 24Ellison has threatened to move Paramount out of California absent a settlement, while California AG Bonta calls that “blackmail” and insists only structural remedies, not behavioral promises, will resolve the antitrust suit.
Aug 22TVREV’s Alan Wolk reports that Ellison is dangling a relocation out of California to pressure AG Bonta into settling the antitrust suit blocking Paramount-Warner, with an October 1 deadline. Critics call it an obvious bluff that could embolden regulators rather than scare them off.
Aug 14