Judge halts Paramount's $110bn Warner Bros deal as states win injunction

A federal judge has granted a temporary injunction against Paramount Global’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, siding with a coalition of US state attorneys general. The ruling injects fresh regulatory uncertainty into the media merger.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-20 17:12 UTC · 1 min read

A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction blocking Paramount Global’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.

Discovery, marking a significant setback for the media merger.

The court ruled in favor of California and a coalition of other US states that sought to halt the transaction, citing concerns over market concentration and consumer impact.

This judicial intervention effectively pauses the deal pending further legal proceedings, casting doubt on the timeline and ultimate viability of the combination.

The decision represents a sharp escalation in the regulatory scrutiny facing the merger.

While the US Department of Justice had previously granted final approval for the acquisition, the lawsuit filed by twelve state attorneys general introduced a new layer of legal risk.