Paramount secured a major milestone in the Warner Bros. merger after clearing another international regulatory hurdle. The approval marks another milestone for the deal. However, it still faces major legal challenges in the United States
Paramount announced Friday that it received approval from Mexico’s competition authority, Variety reports. The deal has now received clearance or gone unchallenged by regulators in 68 jurisdictions, including the European Union, China, Canada, Brazil, and the U.K. That clearance for the merger marks another milestone for the deal. However, an antitrust lawsuit filed in the U.S. is still standing in its way.
Paramount CEO Ellison urges the remaining states to reach a settlement. He wants to avoid a lengthy federal trial scheduled for next year.
What’s left before the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal becomes reality
California and 11 other U.S. states are now the main legal obstacle to the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal. The attorneys general of 12 U.S. states sued Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery in federal court in Oakland on July 13. The lawsuit argues that the deal would significantly reduce competition across several major entertainment markets. These include basic cable and the theatrical distribution of films, including major releases.
“Rather than support a stronger Hollywood and deliver tangible commitments to invest in for the benefit of labor, talent and other industry participants, the current path the 12 State AGs are on inflicts harm without benefit to their own constituents,” the company said in a statement.
After Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin issued a temporary restraining order pausing the transaction for 28 days, Paramount agreed to hold off until trial. The court recently scheduled the federal trial on March 2, 2027. However, the delay creates a significant financial burden for Paramount, as it should pay $7 million per day to Warner Bros. starting from September 30 until the deal closes.
Paramount also warned it may begin moving its operations outside California if no agreement emerges by October 1. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has shown little interest in settling so far. Bonta argued the proposed conditions do not adequately address competition concerns. He also opposes behavioral remedies, such as commitments to release a specific number of movies.
For now, Paramount gets huge relief from the Mexican authority’s approval. Apart from the lawsuit filed by the 12 state attorneys general, the merger also faces another separate lawsuit from the Writers Guild of America.
Originally reported by Manoj Chekkilla on ComingSoon.net.
