Paramount’s Warner Merger Gets Final Approval as Judge Approves Settlement

Judge approves Paramount's $81B merger with Warner Bros. after states settle antitrust claims, allowing deal to close soon.

Editorial Desk

October 1, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Chicago, United States — A federal judge has approved a settlement between Paramount and 12 states that challenged the company’s $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing the way for the merger to proceed.

In a ruling on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín found the proposed consent decree to be a “fair, reasonable, and good faith approach” to address the competitive concerns raised by the states. The deal is now expected to close on October 6, following the approval.

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Paramount, which was acquired by Skydance last year, had previously called the antitrust challenge the final obstacle to completing its merger with Warner Bros. The companies also announced that Ynon Kreiz, CEO of Mattel, will join as co-CEO alongside David Ellison. The merger brings together two of Hollywood’s major studios, combining assets like HBO Max, CNN, and the Top Gun franchise under one roof.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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