US DOJ Approves Warner Bros. Acquisition as 10 States Plan Antitrust Lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Justice today approved Paramount Skydance's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a major victory for a billionaire faction closely tied to former President Donald Trump.

After an eight-month review, the DOJ's antitrust division cleared the deal without requiring any modifications, paving the way for one of the largest media mergers in years.

The Department stated the transaction is 'unlikely to harm market competition or U.S. consumer interests' and could even promote competition.

The decision is a significant win for Paramount CEO David Ellison. His father, Larry Ellison, co-founder and CEO of Oracle, is the primary financier of the acquisition and a key ally of Trump.

Several senators, led by Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, had warned the deal could involve 'political favoritism and corruption' and urged the DOJ to conduct a review based on law and facts.

The combined company would control major media assets including CNN, CBS, HBO, and Nickelodeon, along with some of Hollywood's most valuable franchises such as Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, DC Universe, Mission: Impossible, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

However, federal approval does not eliminate legal risks. Bloomberg reports that a coalition of about 10 states, led by California, is preparing an antitrust lawsuit, potentially filing as early as this month.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office said this week it is 'still actively investigating' the merger. The European Commission is also reviewing the deal.