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BusinessQuiet 2d · day 10

Paramount Skydance settles states' suit, clearing $81B Warner Bros. Discovery merger

After days of on-again, off-again talks, Paramount reaches a settlement with California and 11 other states that had sued to block its Warner Bros. Discovery takeover.

newest coverage 2d agosummary written 2d ago123 pieces3.6k likes & upvotes187 comments NewswiresGoogle NewsYouTubeMastodonRedditXBlueskyHacker News

Part of a larger narrative

Paramount-Skydance Merger Battle

4 stories · since Sep 11 · newest 1h ago — Paramount seeks regulatory approval for its Skydance acquisition while facing legal challenges and economic impact concerns that threaten California's…

  1. Paramount Weighs Elon Musk as Equity Investor in Warner Bros. Deal
  2. Paramount Settles State Lawsuit, Clearing $110bn Warner Bros. Merger
  3. Paramount Skydance settles states' suit, clearing $81B Warner Bros. Discovery mergeryou are here
  4. Leaked study shows Paramount exit could cost California $10.6B–$21.2B annually

What to know

  • Paramount Skydance reached a settlement with California and 11 other states, clearing a major legal hurdle for its roughly $81 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition.
  • Negotiations were volatile in the final days: reports of 'advanced talks' and a $1.5 billion California investment pledge were followed by a reported weekend stalemate over CNN's editorial future before the deal came together.
  • Critics including former FTC chair Lina Khan and the Block the Merger coalition (Jane Fonda, Mark Ruffalo) argue the settlement's behavioral remedies are too weak to address the merger's harms.
  • Paramount CEO David Ellison faced an October 1 deadline after which the company would owe Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders an extra $7 million a day, adding urgency to settle.

“Potential settlement talks are confidential. We cannot confirm or deny whether settlement talks are occurring or their alleged substance.”

Spokesperson for Rob Bonta's office, California AG spokesperson · LA Times ↗ · Sep 17

David Ellison Paramount Skydance CEORob BontaRob Bonta California Attorney GeneralLina Khan Former FTC chair, public criticBlock the Merger coalition Advocacy group including Jane Fonda and Mark RuffaloWarner Bros. Discovery Merger target

Paramount Skydance settles states' suit, clearing $81B Warner Bros. Discovery merger
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How it unfolded 7 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideospostscomments

Peak 57 pieces in 3h at Sep 21, 9 AM; 123 pieces over 10 days (75 articles · 4 videos · 41 posts · 3 comments) Sep 14, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 14, 3 PM — quietSep 14, 6 PM — quietSep 14, 9 PM — quietSep 15, 12 AM — quietSep 15, 3 AM — quietSep 15, 6 AM — quietSep 15, 9 AM — quietSep 15, 12 PM — quietSep 15, 3 PM — quietSep 15, 6 PM — quietSep 15, 9 PM — quietSep 16, 12 AM — quietSep 16, 3 AM — quietSep 16, 6 AM — quietSep 16, 9 AM — quietSep 16, 12 PM — quietSep 16, 3 PM — quietSep 16, 6 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 16, 9 PM — quietSep 17, 12 AM — quietSep 17, 3 AM — quietSep 17, 6 AM — quietSep 17, 9 AM — quietSep 17, 12 PM — quietSep 17, 3 PM — 6 pieces · 3 articles · 2 videos · 1 post — Newswires 3, YouTube 2, Mastodon 1Sep 17, 6 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 17, 9 PM — quietSep 18, 12 AM — quietSep 18, 3 AM — quietSep 18, 6 AM — quietSep 18, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 video — YouTube 1Sep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 3 PM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Newswires 2, X 2Sep 18, 6 PM — 11 pieces · 9 articles · 2 posts — Newswires 5, Mastodon 3, Google News 3Sep 18, 9 PM — 7 pieces · 5 articles · 2 posts — Google News 2, Newswires 2, Mastodon 2, +1 moreSep 19, 12 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 19, 3 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 19, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 19, 9 AM — 7 pieces · 7 articles — Newswires 7Sep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 19, 6 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 20, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 20, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — X 1Sep 20, 3 PM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 2 posts — Mastodon 2, Newswires 1Sep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 12 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 21, 3 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 21, 6 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 21, 9 AM — 57 pieces · 35 articles · 1 video · 20 posts · 1 comment — Newswires 32, Mastodon 14, Reddit 6, +3 moreSep 21, 12 PM — 9 pieces · 1 article · 6 posts · 2 comments — Mastodon 5, Reddit 2, Newswires 1, +1 moreSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quiet 12–3456–7
Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 2:58 AM ET
  1. 7

    Paramount Skydance reaches settlement with the states

    Bloomberg reports Paramount Skydance has reached a settlement with California and the other states suing to block its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with an announcement expected later that day.

    “PARAMOUNT SKYDANCE CORP. HAS REACHED A SETTLEMENT WITH CALIFORNIA AND OTHER STATES SUING TO BLOCK ITS PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY INC. -- BLOOMBERG NEWS…”
    — Bloomberg News
    1. 10 outlets Warner Bros, Paramount Jump After Settling Lawsuits With California And Other States

      first by ZeroHedge, 2d ago · also NYT, LA Times, Mercury News, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Sports +3

      8 more headlines
    2. 5 outlets Paramount settles with California, other states, clearing major hurdle for Warner Bros merger, source says

      first by Investing.com News, 2d ago · also Yahoo Finance, Politico, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline

      4 more headlines
    3 more claims →
    • carlquintanilla.bsky.social

      * PARAMOUNT SKYDANCE CORP. HAS REACHED A SETTLEMENT WITH CALIFORNIA AND OTHER STATES SUING TO BLOCK ITS PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY INC. -- BLOOMBERG NEWS @reuters.com @bloomberg.com $PSKY

      carlquintanilla.bsky.socialBluesky2d ago432▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 10 posts in this stretch

    • for your future voting knowledge, Gavin Newsom was central in pressuring the AGs to settle their antitrust lawsuit against Paramount: Done! Paramount Settles Antitr...

      karlbode.com@bsky.brid.gyMastodon2d ago14▲view on Mastodon ↗

    • When I saw the ‘Paramount looks for Nashville office space’ stuff last week I thought this will be resolved soon. No one from Cali wants to move here

      Endles5Earthr/movies2d agoview on r/movies ↗
    all of them →
  2. 6

    Talks reportedly hit a stalemate over CNN's future

    Despite Friday reports of an imminent deal, insiders tell Page Six that negotiations stalled by Sunday night, with 'many issues' including CNN's editorial future still unresolved.

    1. 1 outlet Paramount deal with Calif. AG far from done with ‘many issues’ including CNN’s future still unresolved

      first by NY Post, 2d ago

  3. 5

    Paramount discusses $1.5 billion California investment pledge

    WSJ reports Paramount is weighing a package of concessions, including a $1.5 billion California investment, as part of advanced settlement talks to clear the path for its Warner Bros. deal; shares of both companies rise on the report.

    1. 2 outlets Paramount-Warner Bros. Settlement: What the Guilds, AGs and Activists Are Saying

      first by Variety, 2d ago · also The Contrarian

      1 more headline
    2. 2 outlets Paramount reaches settlement with California’s Rob Bonta to clear Warner Bros. merger: sources

      first by NY Post, 2d ago · also Screen Rant? placeholder

      1 more headline
    4 more claims →
  4. 4

    Lina Khan warns settlement would let an illegal merger proceed

    Former FTC chair Lina Khan publicly criticizes the prospect of a settlement based on behavioral remedies, calling the underlying merger facially illegal; separately, a report says not all state AGs back the emerging deal.

    “The Paramount/Warner Brothers merger seems facially illegal, and the state AG lawsuit challenging it is very strong. It's troubling to hear that the states may now settle for behavioral remedies, allowing the deal to go through subject to various promises from the firms.”
    — Lina Khan

    • The Paramount/Warner Brothers merger seems facially illegal, and the state AG lawsuit challenging it is very strong. It’s troubling to hear that the states may now settle for behavioral remedies, allowing the deal to go through subject to various promises from the firms.

      @linamkhanX3d ago2.3k▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
    • indivisibleteam@mastodon.social

      This ‘deal’ would be an insult to the hundreds of thousands of workers, journalists, and consumers who will be hurt if the Paramount-Warner Brothers merger goes forward. An agreement based only on unenforceable concessions is a win for David Ellison and a loss for everyone else. https://www. latimes.com/entertainment-arts…

      indivisibleteam@mastodon.socialMastodon4d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    • CNN@c.im

      # CNN # News Paramount nears merger settlement, but some key state AGs are not on board yet

      CNN@c.imMastodon3d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  5. 1 day quiet
  6. 3

    Block the Merger coalition urges Bonta to hold firm

    A coalition including Jane Fonda and Mark Ruffalo calls the rumored settlement a capitulation that would only benefit David Ellison while harming workers, journalists and consumers.

    “The rumored 'deal' to usher the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger forward is an insult to everyone who has stood up against this harmful transaction and to the hundreds of thousands of workers, journalists, and consumers who will be hurt if it goes forward.”
    — Block the Merger coalition
    1. 6 outlets Paramount, California settlement talks accelerate, potentially moving Warner Bros. merger closer

      first by Mastodon, 5d ago · also Seeking Alpha, CNBC, Reuters, The Wrap, LA Times

      5 more headlines
    • Mediagazer@mstdn.social

      Sources: Paramount and the states seeking to block the WBD sale could settle as soon as this weekend, with independent content monitoring of CNN among the terms (Jody Godoy/Reuters) https://www. reuters.com/business/media-tel ecom/paramount-states-discuss-cnn-monitoring-film-release-commitment-sources-say-2026-09-18/ http://…

      Mediagazer@mstdn.socialMastodon5d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
    • servelan

      "Seeking to settle a lawsuit with 12 states, Paramount has discussed measures to protect the editorial independence of CNN and the divestiture of Comedy Central." Paramount Weighs Some Concessions in Bid to Finalize Warner Bros. Merger - The New York Times https://www. nytimes.com/2026/09/18/busines s/paramount-warner-bros-settlement.html

      servelanMastodon5d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    • jeffjarvis@mastodon.social

      Don't settle. Block. Paramount Weighs Some Concessions in Bid to Finalize Warner Bros. Merger https://www. nytimes.com/2026/09/18/busines s/paramount-warner-bros-settlement.html?smid=tw-share

      jeffjarvis@mastodon.socialMastodon4d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  7. 2

    Paramount and Bonta enter 'advanced talks' to settle suit

    Reports describe advanced negotiations discussing concessions such as protecting CNN's editorial independence, divesting Comedy Central, operating the two studios separately, and independent monitoring of CNN.

    1. 2 outlets Paramount In Advanced Settlement Talks With California’s Attorney General

      first by WSJ US Business, 5d ago · also NY Post

      1 more headline

    2. 1 outlet first by Investing.com News, 5d ago · read ↗

    • Paramount Skydance is in “advanced talks” with California Attorney General Rob Bonta to settle the 12-state antitrust suit that’s holding up its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. A Paramount spokesperson declined to comment. A rep for Bonta’s office said, “Potential

      @VarietyX5d ago399▲view on X ↗
    1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch

    • California and 11 other states sued in July to block the $81-billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.

      @WSJX5d ago115▲view on X ↗
    all of them →
  8. 1

    Bonta talks tough while leaving door open to settlement

    Facing Paramount's threat to leave California, Bonta publicly defends the lawsuit but says he is willing to negotiate if talks are sincere and in good faith.

    “I want them to stay…”
    — Rob Bonta
    1. 2 outlets Rob Bonta on Paramount’s Threat to Leave California: “They Own It. It Lies at Their Feet”

      first by The Hollywood Reporter, 7d ago · also NY Post

      2 more headlines
  9. background

    California and 11 states sue to block Paramount-WBD merger — Rob Bonta, joined by attorneys general in New York, Colorado, Nevada and others, files an antitrust suit in July to stop Paramount Skydance's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 4 outlets Paramount in talks to settle antitrust lawsuit blocking WBD deal

    first by Financial Times, 5d ago · also Politico, Variety, FT

    2 more headlines
  2. 2 outlets Paramount nears merger settlement, but some key state AGs are not on board yet

    first by CNN, 3d ago · also Seeking Alpha

    1 more headline
  3. 2 outlets Paramount Weighs Some Concessions in Bid to Finalize Warner Bros. Merger

    first by New York Times, 4d ago · also NYT

and 2 smaller pieces

What people are saying 7 voices from 3 sites · best of 18 · verbatim