Paramount reaches deal with states to settle their case challenging Warner buyout, AP source say

Skydance-owned Paramount reached a settlement on Monday (September 21, 2026) with a group of state attorneys general that had sued to challenge the company's buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery, effectively paving the way for the mega merger to move forward, a person familiar with the matter told the AP .

The person was not authorised to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity. Details of the settlement with the states were not immediately available, but were expected to be revealed later in the day.

The coalition of states — including entertainment heavyweights like California and New York — sued to block the $81 billion merger back in July, alleging a Paramount-Warner combo would “extinguish competition” and lead to fewer choices for consumers, particularly movie theatergoers and cable customers across the U.S.