Judge temporarily halts Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger
The ruling comes after a coalition of 12 states sued to block the deal, arguing it would harm consumers and the entertainment industry.
Updated on: July 20, 2026 / 2:29 PM EDT / CBS News
A U.S. district judge temporarily halted the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger on Monday, after a coalition of states sued to block the deal.
The temporary restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days, with a hearing set for Aug. 3.
The states' lawsuit "presented compelling evidence that the combined firm resulting from the transaction will possess substantial market share in the wide-release theatrical distribution market," California district judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín wrote in the ruling. "On this combined firm market share alone, the Court is persuaded that it can presume the proposed merger is likely to violate antitrust laws."
"Paramount and Warner Bros. will continue to operate as separate, viable companies competing in the marketplace while they wait for the Court to adjudicate this case," she added.
Paramount Skydance, the parent company of CBS News, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Warner Bros. referred CBS News to Paramount.