Paramount, 12 state attorneys general and WGA disagree over antitrust trial dates

(KYMA) - Paramount Skydance, 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) issued a joint statement regarding scheduling dates for an antitrust trial regarding the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).

In a court document filed Friday, Paramount asked the judge to schedule the antitrust trial for November of this year, but the attorneys general the WGA asked to have the trial take place in April of next year.

"The parties have discussed the trial schedule, but they have not reached agreement," they wrote in the joint statement.

A Paramount spokesperson issued the following statement on the trial saying:

"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. 

Our request for a November trial date is more than sufficient to give both sides the time they need to conduct discovery, gather evidence, and prepare for trial. Plaintiffs' request to delay proceedings until April is nothing more than a stonewalling tactic that goes well beyond the timelines sought in similar prior proceedings and ignores the substantial evidence plaintiffs have already received in this matter. Delay will also harm the many individuals outside this courtroom who will be denied the expanded content offerings and industry stability that a combined Paramount-WBD promises to bring. 

We will continue to vigorously defend the transaction and remain committed to closing as soon as possible so its benefits for the creative community and consumers can be realized."

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading the lawsuit to block the merger, also issued the following statement saying:

"Our challenge to the unlawful Warner Bros./Paramount merger is a clean-cut antitrust challenge through and through: it's about protecting the vibrancy of an industry, the pockets of consumers, and the quality of films and television programs that take center stage in many of our lives. This challenge deserves careful and thorough review and today my office and attorneys general across the country asked the court for a trial date next spring. We are eager to continue to make our case and look forward to a final determination of the schedule by the court."

This comes a week after Paramount agreed to delay the merger to either June of next year, or until antitrust trial takes place.

The delay came after a judge granted a temporarily restraining order last week after the attorneys general, including Arizona and California, sued to block the $110 billion merger.

In addition the attorneys general, the WGA also filed a lawsuit blocking the merger earlier this month.

Prior to the merger's delay, Paramount announced the European Commission approved their merger with WBD Wednesday, as well as the Justice Department approving the merger last month.