Paramount Agrees to Freeze Warner Bros. Merger Amid Sustained Public and Legal Resistance

July 24, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following is a statement from Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), co-founder and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, after Paramount agreed to halt its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery until June 2027 at the latest while a federal court considers a lawsuit brought by 12 state attorneys general:

“The Ellisons believed their relationship with President Trump would help them push through a disastrous deal that threatened democracy, creative freedom and independent journalism. We in the #BlocktheMerger campaign helped prove them wrong.

“Paramount’s decision keeps two major studios competing instead of handing one company even more power over what Americans watch, what they pay, and where entertainment workers can earn a living. The merger would have eliminated one of Hollywood’s largest buyers of scripts and productions while placing Paramount+, HBO Max, CBS News, CNN and dozens of local stations under the management of one company.

“This victory in putting the merger on hold belongs to the people who refused to treat the merger as inevitable. Artists, journalists, filmmakers, and consumer advocates spoke out despite the risk of retaliation, more than 5,500 people signed our open letter, and Attorneys General Rob Bonta and Letitia James, along with 10 other attorneys general, acted. This collective resistance is turning the tide.”

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Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.

For media inquiries, contact press@democracydefenders.org.

Photo: paulomgodoy | stock.adobe.com

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