Story perspectives

Paramount Skydance threatens 2026 relocation unless antitrust suit settled

8/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, told executives company will begin relocating from California on Oct. 1, 2026 unless Attorney General Rob Bonta settles antitrust lawsuit over Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
The merger agreement imposes a $7 million-per-day fee starting Oct. 1, 2026, reaching $1 billion by the March 2, 2027 trial.
Ellison has named Tennessee, Texas and Georgia as sites, where incentives could save Paramount up to $500 million in taxes and affect 30,000 jobs, 17 % of Los Angeles workforce.

History

Historical Context

Georgia’s 2008 expansion of its entertainment tax credit to 30% built on 2002 and 2005 incentives, drawing billions in out-of-state production and generating roughly 30,000 jobs by 2020. After 2023 strikes and a spending fall to $2.3 billion in 2025—cutting permits by about 50%—Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison warns AG Rob Bonta that shifting those jobs could cost California $500 million.

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Story summary

David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, told executives company will begin relocating from California on Oct. 1, 2026 unless Attorney General Rob Bonta settles antitrust lawsuit over Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
The merger agreement imposes a $7 million-per-day fee starting Oct. 1, 2026, reaching $1 billion by the March 2, 2027 trial.
Ellison has named Tennessee, Texas and Georgia as sites, where incentives could save Paramount up to $500 million in taxes and affect 30,000 jobs, 17 % of Los Angeles workforce.

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