California Attorney General Rob Bonta indicated willingness to resume settlement discussions with Paramount regarding a pending antitrust case, but only if the entertainment company addresses what he characterized as inappropriate information leaks. Bonta had initially scheduled a meeting with Paramount representatives for Monday at the company’s request, but canceled it late Sunday evening after details about the planned discussions surfaced in news reports.
The 12-state antitrust lawsuit has prevented Paramount from completing its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. During remarks Tuesday, Bonta criticized Paramount’s handling of the confidential negotiation process, calling the behavior “amateur hour” and accusing the company of misrepresenting the substance of conversations. He emphasized that any productive settlement talks require both parties to operate in good faith and maintain confidentiality to explore potential solutions.
Paramount has stated it remains committed to resolving the matter through discussion and indicated openness to structural remedies, though specifics remain unclear. However, Bonta rejected what he termed behavioral commitments, such as Paramount’s pledge to produce at least 30 films annually for three years, as insufficient and unenforceable. He reiterated that any resolution must include robust structural remedies across three key markets: basic cable distribution, wide-release theatrical distribution, and blockbuster film distribution.
Bonta suggested the timeline for resolution rests with Paramount, noting that litigation could proceed to trial next spring if the company fails to accept meaningful structural changes. The longer the case remains unresolved, the more in ticking fees Paramount must pay Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders.
Originally reported by Variety →
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