12 States File Lawsuit Seeking To Block Warner Bros.-Paramount Merger
A dozen state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday in an effort to block Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Democratic California Attorney General Rob Bonta alleged in the lawsuit that the proposed merger “would combine two of Hollywood’s five major film distributors and two of the five major basic cable channel owners, extinguishing […]
A dozen state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday in an effort to block Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Democratic California Attorney General Rob Bontaalleged in the lawsuit that the proposed merger “would combine two of Hollywood’s five major film distributors and two of the five major basic cable channel owners, extinguishing competition between Paramount and Warner Bros., and inflicting substantial harm on movie theaters, basic cable distributors and, ultimately, audiences nationwide.” The states have requested that Warner Bros. and Paramount do not “close the merger until after the judicial process concludes, and if they do not agree, the coalition will be filing a temporary restraining order,” per the press release.
“Today, I am leading a coalition of states in challenging the proposed merger of Warner Bros. and Paramount and asking the court to block the deal,” Bonta said in a statement. “The unlawful merger of these two entertainment behemoths would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and television, harming movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and ultimately, audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the U.S.”
“California’s film and entertainment industry touches the lives of Americans daily — it comes into the living rooms of families, has a starring role in many young people’s first dates, and is a point of immense pride and employment for Californians up and down our state,” Bonta continued. “Consolidation here not only leads to higher prices — it also leads to fewer opportunities for important stories to come to life, and fewer ways for audiences to encounter stories, ideas, and perspectives beyond their own experiences. In this country, no one is above the law. With this lawsuit, California and our sister states are fighting for free and fair markets, not rigged markets.”
When reached for comment, Bonta’s office referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to its press release from Monday. Warner Bros. and Paramount each did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.