Pressure grows on California attorney general to try to block Paramount's deal for Warner Bros.

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

California Democrats in Congress are raising concerns about Paramount Skydance’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros.Discovery — a $111-billion deal that would dramatically reshape Hollywood by consolidating two historic film studios.Rep.

Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) and 33 other members of Congress on Thursday urged California Atty.Gen.

Rob Bonta to scrutinize potential antitrust harms that would come from billionaire David Ellison’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros.Discovery — and possibly bring a legal challenge.

The lawmakers’ campaign comes after more than 4,000 entertainment industry workers, including Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller and J.J.Abrams, signed an open letter calling for the deal to be blocked.“We remain concerned that the proposed merger could harm California workers and consumers,” the 34 lawmakers wrote in their letter to Bonta.

“We therefore respectfully urge you to closely analyze the potential effects of this merger, and, if you determine that this merger would have anticompetitive effects, use your best judgment to pursue the appropriate course of action.”The deal, the largest Hollywood merger in nearly a decade, would bring together Warner Bros.and Paramount Pictures, streaming services HBO Max, Discovery+ and Paramount+, more than two dozen cable channels as well as CBS News and CNN.

Paramount has said it expects the combination would bring at least $6 billion in cost savings, raising fears among the Democrats about widespread job losses.Pressure is growing on Bonta to try to thwart Ellison’s proposed merger.Bonta has previously told The Times his office is reviewing the proposed combination to determine whether it would harm consumers and industry competition.On Thursday, a spokesperson confirmed there was still “an active investigation,” into the proposed merger, but Bonta’s office had no “updates to share at this time.”Bonta se...