Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery and 12 state attorneys general urged a federal judge Monday to approve their antitrust settlement over a $111 billion merger. The filings rejected objections raised by Sen. Cory Booker.
Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery and 12 state attorneys general filed court responses Monday defending their antitrust settlement over an $111 billion merger, asking a federal judge to reject objections raised by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.
The responses came before a noon deadline set by U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin in Oakland. Booker filed a six-page letter on Sept. 24 urging the court to measure the settlement against an injunction blocking the merger entirely, arguing the agreement fails to fix anticompetitive harms, eliminate job losses, or protect consumers beyond five years.
Lawyers for the companies and the states filed separate documents arguing the consent decree reached last week is a reasonable and enforceable compromise. Paramount attorney Marguerite Sullivan signed a 16-page filing submitted 30 minutes before the deadline, arguing that a negotiated agreement requires compromises and that the states faced the risk of recovering nothing in continued litigation.
The coalition of 12 states, led by California and including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington, submitted a 17-page filing. The states argued the decree has teeth and resolves competitive issues alleged in their complaint.
Booker also challenged the proposed five-year lifespan of the decree and questioned the independence of an oversight board planned for CNN and CBS News, pointing out that Paramount will pick the members. In response, Paramount said a five-year term fits a fast-changing industry, arguing that a longer period could harm competition as consumer demand changes. The states agreed, calling the term a bargained balance.
Addressing the newsroom board, Paramount wrote that the panel was structured to operate efficiently and avoid government control. The states argued the provision defines structure rather than speech and does not ask the court to judge editorial choices.
Judge Martinez-Olguin has not approved the consent decree yet and said last week she will rule in due course. The court also received amicus briefs opposing the settlement from the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Block the Merger coalition, while an agreement ticking fee of $7 million to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders kicks in Oct. 1.
