Judge sets March 2027 trial on Paramount-Warner Bros deal

By Jody Godoy

Aug ‌4 (Reuters) - Lawsuits ​challenging ​Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery 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.

• 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.

(Reporting ​by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Mark Porter and Nick ‌Zieminski)

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