Overview
- A federal judge extended the temporary restraining order by two weeks, keeping the transaction paused while the court sets an expedited schedule to decide a preliminary injunction.
- Paramount asked for a three-day evidentiary hearing in mid‑to‑late August and told the court it would agree to keep the TRO in place through the judge’s decision.
- A coalition of 12 state attorneys general sued on antitrust grounds, saying the merger would reduce competition in theatrical distribution, blockbuster output and basic cable licensing.
- Paramount warned that delays could trigger a $7 million-per-day ticking fee after the Sept. 30 deadline and said a preliminary injunction could push its costs above $1 billion.
- Separate actions and reviews — including a Writers Guild injunction motion, ongoing EU and UK regulator scrutiny, and the DOJ’s prior clearance — create multiple legal paths that could independently delay or block the deal.