Judge Extends Pause on Paramount-Warner Merger as Antitrust Review Advances

U.S. District Judge extended the temporary restraining order blocking Paramount’s $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to Aug. 18 to give time for a schedule for a potential preliminary injunction; the states allege the merger would throttle competition, while Paramount pushes for a multi‑day evidentiary hearing; the Writers Guild of America has filed a separate lawsuit over the deal; a $6.9 million per day ticking fee applies if the deal isn’t closed by Sept. 30; the injunction decision is set for Aug. 3.