US judge approves Paramount Skydance's $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín approved a settlement between Paramount Skydance and 12 Democratic state attorneys general, led by California's Rob Bonta, clearing the final legal hurdle for the $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The merger, which will combine CBS News, CNN, HBO Max, Paramount+, and major film studios, faced antitrust concerns over reduced competition and CNN's editorial independence. The settlement imposes conditions including minimum theatrical releases, investment in U.S. production, and an editorial board for CNN and CBS News. The deal is expected to close on October 6, with Ynon Kreiz joining as co-CEO.