Judge sets March 2027 trial on Paramount-Warner Bros deal
PSKY•Trial scheduled for March 2027
Lawsuits challenging Paramount Skydance's PSKY.O acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery WBD.O will go to trial in March 2027, a federal judge in California ruled on Tuesday.
- The ruling is a win for California Attorney General Rob Botna, who had sought an April trial. Paramount had asked for trial to start in November.
- Paramount has agreed not to close the deal until a judge rules in the case, or until June 2027, whichever comes sooner.
Claims from states and writers union
- The trial will last 12 days on claims by the California-led group of states and the Writers Guild of America.
- The states say the deal would harm competition in film and television distribution. The union says it would decrease competition for writing work.
- Paramount has defended the deal, saying it will lead to more content production and a stronger Hollywood.
- Paramount could owe as much as $1.7 billion in ticking fees it promised to Warner Bros. shareholders if the deal is delayed until next summer.
