David Ellison Hopes To Close Paramount-WBD Deal "In Approximately Two Weeks" As He Hails Legal Settlement In Company Memo
News Source
β’Mon, 21 Sep 2026 19:19:19 +0000
π° What Happened
Paramount chief executive David Ellison told staff the company's merger with Warner Bros. Discovery should close "in approximately two weeks". He wrote the note in a company memo on Monday.
The memo followed a settlement with attorneys general from 12 states. The Writers Guild of America also settled its separate lawsuit. Both had claimed the merger broke competition law.
Ellison called it an exciting moment for the company and the industry. He also said there is still work to do before the deal is finished.
π The Backstory
The $111 billion merger would combine CBS, Nickelodeon and Paramount+ with HBO, CNN and HBO Max. That puts two famous studios under one roof.
The five-year consent decree includes several promises but no forced asset sales. The company must release at least 30 films a year and spend more on US production.
The settlement was announced on Yom Kippur, when many media staff were offline. California's attorney general was the main voice explaining the terms that day.
π― Why It Matters
How Ellison handles the merger will shape Hollywood jobs, streaming prices and news coverage. The promises in the decree will be tested over five years.
Paramount chief executive David Ellison told staff the company's merger with Warner Bros. Discovery should close "in approximately two weeks". He wrote the note in a company memo on Monday.
The memo followed a settlement with attorneys general from 12 states. The Writers Guild of America also settled its separate lawsuit. Both had claimed the merger broke competition law.
Ellison called it an exciting moment for the company and the industry. He also said there is still work to do before the deal is finished.
The $111 billion merger would combine CBS, Nickelodeon and Paramount+ with HBO, CNN and HBO Max. That puts two famous studios under one roof.
The five-year consent decree includes several promises but no forced asset sales. The company must release at least 30 films a year and spend more on US production.
The settlement was announced on Yom Kippur, when many media staff were offline. California's attorney general was the main voice explaining the terms that day.
How Ellison handles the merger will shape Hollywood jobs, streaming prices and news coverage. The promises in the decree will be tested over five years.