Paramount and state AGs spar over timing of antitrust trial in proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger

Paramount has asked a federal judge to begin an antitrust trial in November over the proposed merger of Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a court filing reported by Deadline. The government plaintiffs, joined by the Writers Guild of America, asked for an April start date instead. The parties submitted their proposals in a joint filing, with the court expected to decide the schedule.

The dispute over timing comes as the merger faces opposition from state attorneys general, who argue the deal would reduce competition in the market for audiovisual content and distribution. Paramount, in its proposal, pushed for a later start, contending with the trial schedule it seeks and the time needed for preparation.

The states and WGA did not align on that timetable. In their request, they proposed April for the trial’s start, seeking an earlier resolution of the antitrust claims. The filing reflected the plaintiffs’ view that the case should move promptly through the courts once pretrial preparation is complete.

The Writers Guild’s involvement is significant in part because the merger could affect how studios produce, license, and distribute programming that is subject to guild labor protections. While the motion itself is focused on when a trial should begin, the WGA’s participation indicates that labor and content-production concerns remain intertwined with the legal fight over the transaction.

Deadline reported that Paramount and the government plaintiffs did not reach an agreement on the trial date. The court will now weigh the parties’ competing schedules, along with other litigation considerations such as discovery deadlines, briefing, and the availability of courtroom time.

The timing decision matters to multiple groups beyond the companies. If the trial begins earlier, the parties and affected stakeholders could reach a legal resolution sooner, shaping how merger-related planning proceeds and whether either side can rely on a faster path to a decision. If the trial begins later, companies, workers, and business partners may face a longer period of uncertainty tied to ongoing litigation and regulatory review.

No final trial date was set in the reported filing. The next step is for the judge to rule on the schedule, after which the parties would have to align pretrial milestones and trial logistics with the court’s decision.