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Bonta to Meet Paramount Skydance Over $110B Antitrust Settlement

8/23/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Attorney General Rob Bonta will meet Paramount Skydance on Monday to discuss settling the $110 billion Warner Bros. Discovery antitrust case.
A federal trial in Oakland is scheduled for March to resolve the lawsuit.
Delays past Sept. 30 could force Paramount to pay roughly $650 million each quarter.
A breakup would trigger a $7 billion fee.
Bonta says any settlement must include robust structural remedies, not just behavioral promises.

History

Historical Context

In 1974 the DOJ sued AT&T, and the January 8 1982 consent decree forced the company to split into seven Baby Bells, cutting its book value about 70% and ending its monopoly. Today California Attorney General Rob Bonta is negotiating with Paramount and Skydance to avoid a multibillion-dollar breakup fee in Warner Bros. Discovery’s antitrust case, echoing the 1982 divestiture precedent.

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Story summary

Attorney General Rob Bonta will meet Paramount Skydance on Monday to discuss settling the $110 billion Warner Bros. Discovery antitrust case.
A federal trial in Oakland is scheduled for March to resolve the lawsuit.
Delays past Sept. 30 could force Paramount to pay roughly $650 million each quarter.
A breakup would trigger a $7 billion fee.
Bonta says any settlement must include robust structural remedies, not just behavioral promises.

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