Judge halts Paramount’s $111B purchase of Warner Bros. in win for US states
Summary
A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order halting Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery's $111 billion merger, giving an early win to states seeking to block the deal. The ruling cites a likely antitrust violation based on increased market concentration and a presumption of illegality under the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, with a preliminary injunction hearing set for August 3. If upheld, the decision delays the megamerger and signals renewed antitrust scrutiny of major media consolidations.