Paramount settles lawsuits with 12 US states, clearing way for Warner merger

Though the merger was approved by the justice department in June, a coalition of 12 states led by California filed a lawsuit to block it in July. Composite: AP, Bauer Griffin/GC Images

Paramount has reached a settlement with California and several other states that sued over a proposed $81bn merger with Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), the California attorney general announced Monday, clearing the way to consolidate some of Hollywood’s most recognizable TV networks and studios under one owner.

Though the merger was approved by the justice department in June, a coalition of 12 states, led by California, had sued over concerns that combining two of the five last legacy studios in Hollywood would “extinguish competition” and lead to fewer movies in theaters and on streaming platforms.