A coalition of 13 states, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, filed an antitrust lawsuit on Monday 13 July 2026 seeking to block the proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance. The lawsuit alleges the combination would reduce competition in the entertainment and streaming sectors, resulting in higher consumer prices, diminished content choices, and thousands of job losses. The action was described as bipartisan.
The lawsuit directly concerns Paramount Global (PARA) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), the two publicly listed companies whose proposed merger is the subject of the antitrust challenge. Both companies are parties to the $110 billion transaction that the states seek to enjoin.
California AG Rob Bonta was named as the lead plaintiff in the coalition filing. The complaint centres on harms to consumers and workers rather than solely on structural market concentration, reflecting the states' use of consumer protection and labour arguments alongside traditional antitrust grounds. The filing represents state-level enforcement action independent of any federal review.
Sources: Bloomberg Markets, Guardian Business, Cnbc TOP