// THE VERGE — MOBILE & WEB
Paramount settles lawsuit blocking $110 billion Warner Bros. merger
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This settlement will resolve the antitrust lawsuit filed by California, New York, Washington, and several other states to block Paramount’s big deal.
This settlement will resolve the antitrust lawsuit filed by California, New York, Washington, and several other states to block Paramount’s big deal.
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Paramount has reached a settlement with California and the 11 other states that sued to block its planned $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The settlement removes a major roadblock standing in the way of the massive media merger.
According to the proposed consent decree filed with the court, it includes requirements like minimum numbers of theatrical film releases over the next five years, starting with 30 in year one and two, and 32 in the following years, and a commitment to spend at least $300 million more on production in the US compared to what the companies spent in 2025. At least four of the films produced must be independent films, and at least 20 percent must be “tentpole” blockbuster movies with $50 million-plus budgets, and releases on a minimum of 3,000 US screens within the first month.
If Paramount doesn’t meet these film release requirements, it must divest Miramax Studios and pay $30 million per missed film. It also requires the merged company to keep offering a free streaming service, like Pluto TV, and includes a commitment not to sell Paramount Studios or Warner Bros. lots in California for at least five years.