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California Attorney General Rob Bonta abruptly canceled a planned Monday meeting with Paramount Skydance, saying the company misrepresented and leaked details from earlier settlement talks over its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The move intensifies a multi-state legal effort to block the deal and signals tougher talks ahead.
Why the meeting was called off
Bonta said his office met with Paramount on Friday, but that company representatives disclosed the alleged substance of those discussions and inaccurately characterized them. He described that conduct as a “lack of good faith” and said his office would not continue talks until Paramount stopped what he called “playing games.”
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The scheduled Monday session was canceled after those concerns, according to the attorney general. Bonta leads a coalition of state attorneys general pursuing the antitrust lawsuit aimed at preventing the merger.
Paramount’s reply and other reactions
Paramount responded by saying it has assured the attorney general’s office that it was not the source of any leaks and expressed willingness to keep negotiating in good faith. The company said it remains hopeful discussions can resolve the Attorneys General suit and allow the merger to move forward, citing benefits for competition and entertainment workers.
A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment. The New York Times first reported the scheduling and cancellation of the meeting.
Where the legal fight stands
In July, Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general filed suit to block the merger, alleging the transaction would create a dominant media company controlling a significant share of films and basic television programming. Bonta has described the case as a “black-and-white” antitrust matter and told CNBC he prefers resolving disputes in the boardroom rather than the courtroom.
Still, he has made clear that any settlement would need what he called robust structural remedies from Paramount. For now, his office is proceeding with litigation while remaining open to serious negotiations.
Timetable and financial scale
Paramount is proposing to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for approximately $110 billion and has agreed to delay closing the transaction until as late as June 2027. A trial in the antitrust case is set for March.
Paramount has repeatedly defended the merger and described the lawsuit as a mischaracterization of the competitive landscape. The dispute now hinges on whether the parties can reach a settlement acceptable to the coalition of state regulators, or whether the court will decide the case at trial.
