Paramount, state attorneys general spar over antitrust trial date

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Set us as preferred Paramount Skydance Chairman David Ellison and California Atty.Gen.

Rob Bonta are clashing again — this time over when the antitrust trial to determine whether Paramount can complete its nearly $111-billion takeover of Warner Bros.Discovery should begin.

In court documents Friday, Bonta and his coalition of 11 other Democratic attorneys general proposed a two- to three- week trial beginning April 5, 2027.Ellison’s Paramount pushed back, saying the media company would like to start the courtroom action on Nov.4.“Our request for a November trial date is more than sufficient to give both sides the time they need to conduct discovery, gather evidence, and prepare for trial,” Paramount said in a statement that called the state attorneys general request for a springtime trial “nothing more than a stonewalling tactic.” Hollywood Inc.

Winning a restraining order will be a crucial test for California Atty.Gen.

Rob Bonta and his group.Some observers see the states’ efforts as an uphill climb because the U.S.

Justice Department last month approved the merger.U.S.District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, who is overseeing the high-profile case, now must pick the date.

For Paramount, the issue is hugely important.Ellison wants to wrap up the massive Hollywood deal — bringing CNN, HBO and the Warner Bros.

film and television studios under Paramount — as soon as possible.Doing so is crucial to holding together Paramount’s coalition of financiers and controlling its rising expenses, primarily legal fees and escalating obligations to Warner shareholders.Early this year, Paramount agreed to pay Warner investors a so-called ticking fee of $.25 per share per quarter, beginning Oct.

1.The overture was aimed at winning over investors during a bidding war with Netflix.

Paramount agreed to pay Warner sha...