By Jody Godoy
Aug 4 (Reuters) – Lawsuits challenging Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will go to trial in March 2027, a federal judge in California ruled on Tuesday.
• The ruling is a win for California Attorney General Rob Botna, who had sought an April trial. Paramount had asked for trial to start in November.
• Paramount has agreed not to close the deal until a judge rules in the case, or until June 2027, whichever comes sooner.
• The trial will last 12 days on claims by the California-led group of states and the Writers Guild of America.
• The states say the deal would harm competition in film and television distribution. The union says it would decrease competition for writing work.
• Paramount has defended the deal, saying it will lead to more content production and a stronger Hollywood.
• Paramount could owe as much as $1.7 billion in ticking fees it promised to Warner Bros. shareholders if the deal is delayed until next summer.
(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Mark Porter and Nick Zieminski)
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