Court Blocks Paramount-Warner Merger Amid Antitrust Push

A judge granted a 14-day temporary restraining order to pause Paramount’s planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery as a 12-state coalition argues it would violate federal antitrust law, potentially raising prices and reducing content. A preliminary injunction hearing is set for Aug. 3, and the deal could be blocked until the merits are decided, with Paramount and Warner continuing to operate separately in the meantime. If the deal hasn’t closed by Sept. 30, Paramount faces potential daily penalties, while the states contend the merger would harm competition in basic cable and theatrical markets.