Paramount Agrees To Hold Off WBD Merger Until After Antitrust Trial

The Paramount-WBD merger is currently on hold while the court decides whether the deal violates antitrust laws.

In a court document filed on Friday, Paramount said it will hold off on consummating the acquisition until June 2027 or five days after the court issues a ruling on the case.

In a statement, a Paramount spokesperson said (via The Hollywood Reporter) the agreement provides a “direct path to a trial based on the evidence.”

“This is the fastest and clearest way to prove that this transaction is good for competition, good for consumers, and good for creators, a conclusion dozens of competition authorities around the world have already reached,” the spokesperson added. “Plaintiffs’ market definitions bear no relationship to the realities of today’s marketplace and cannot withstand scrutiny. We look forward to proving our case at trial.”

The deal is valued at roughly $110 billion and was on track to be completed in September.

All Elite Wrestling has a media rights deal with WBD through the end of 2027, with an option for 2028. Once the deal goes through, it is expected that Paramount streaming service Paramount+ and WBD service HBO Max will combine into one streaming platform.

AEW television and pay-per-views stream on HBO Max, though it’s too early to know where AEW will land once the deal officially goes through and things are settled.