Paramount seeks November antitrust trial date as states request April 2027

Paramount Global and Skydance asked U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin to schedule the antitrust trial over the proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery for early November, citing concerns that a later date would extend market uncertainty. The 12-state coalition, which includes California and New York, and the Writers Guild of America filed separate lawsuits and asked for a 12- to 15-day trial beginning on April 5, 2027, arguing they need additional time for document production and depositions.

Paramount argued that a delay would prejudice the creative industry, its workers and consumers, and that the merger would create a stronger competitor to streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. The states countered that the company’s proposed schedule would allow less than two months for fact discovery and only one month for expert discovery, which they said would limit the evidentiary record.

The trial is set to take place in federal court in Oakland and will rely heavily on economic expert testimony. Paramount faces a contractual deadline to close the merger by June 4, 2027. Earlier this month, the judge issued a temporary restraining order that halted the deal for 28 days, and Paramount subsequently agreed to pause the transaction until the trial proceeds.

"We believe a trial on the merits is the best and most direct way for us to prove what we’ve said from the start — this transaction is lawful, pro-competitive, and raises no antitrust concerns," a Paramount spokesperson said.

Attorney General Rob Bonta also issued a statement supporting the company's request for a November trial date.