Paramount Skydance Secures Global Regulatory Approvals for Warner Bros. Discovery Merger
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Paramount Skydance Secures Global Regulatory Approvals for Warner Bros. Discovery Merger
- Paramount Skydance announced on August 14, 2026, that it has secured all necessary regulatory clearances in 68 countries for its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
- Despite widespread global approval, including from the U.S. Department of Justice, the merger faces ongoing litigation from California and 11 other U.S. state attorneys general.
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Paramount Skydance announced on Friday, August 14, 2026, that its proposed $110.9 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has received all required regulatory clearances. This significant milestone follows an eight-month review process that spanned 68 countries worldwide, with the latest approval coming from Mexico. Regulatory bodies in the European Union, UK, Australia, Canada, Brazil, China, and the U.S. Department of Justice are among those that have given their approval.
According to Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, these independent competition authorities consistently found no basis to prevent the transaction from moving forward, concluding that it is “pro-competitive, pro-consumer and pro-worker.” Regulators, including Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority, the European Commission, and the U.S. Department of Justice, determined that the combined company would continue to face robust competition from streaming services and other studios. Paramount has also committed to releasing at least 30 high-quality films annually across the merged business.
Despite these global approvals, the merger still faces a significant hurdle: ongoing litigation from California and 11 other U.S. state attorneys general. Paramount Skydance has urged these states to negotiate a settlement, expressing their willingness to offer commitments and concessions. The company stated that the continuing state litigation could lead to additional penalty fees, legal expenses, and business disruption, delaying the completion of the merger, which was initially expected to close by July 15, 2026. A federal judge ruled on August 4, 2026, to hold the antitrust trial related to the proposed merger in March 2027.