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Paramount Threatens California Exit Unless Merger Closes

8/18/2026

25 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, said the company will pull operations out of California by Oct. 1 unless the Warner Bros. Discovery merger closes by the end of September.
Rob Bonta, California Attorney General, called the relocation threat blackmail and refused settlement talks.
Paramount asked a judge to require a $1.88 billion bond to keep the antitrust case pending while a 12-state lawsuit could send it to trial in March 2027.

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Story summary

David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, said the company will pull operations out of California by Oct. 1 unless the Warner Bros. Discovery merger closes by the end of September.
Rob Bonta, California Attorney General, called the relocation threat blackmail and refused settlement talks.
Paramount asked a judge to require a $1.88 billion bond to keep the antitrust case pending while a 12-state lawsuit could send it to trial in March 2027.