The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the controversial acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) by entertainment giant Paramount Skydance, according to reports on Friday by Politico and other national media outlets.
The DOJ determined that Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of WBD does not pose a threat to competition and approved the deal without requiring “divestitures, behavioral remedies, or concessions,” according to Politico, which cites anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
Variety magazine published a statement from Paramount expressing its “gratitude” to the DOJ and the other agencies “that have completed their reviews and given their approval so far.”
The DOJ’s approval paves the way for Paramount to acquire WBD’s assets, which include HBO and HBO Max, Warner Bros. film and television studios, DC, CNN, TBS, TNT, HGTV, and Discovery+.
Finally, all Warner Bros. content will be owned by Paramount Skydance
Paramount’s president and CEO, David Ellison, met three weeks ago with officials from the Competition Division, who asked him questions about the deal and its impact on competition until they were satisfied, Politico also reports.
At least six state attorney general’s offices, including those in California and New York, were present at the meeting between Ellison and DOJ officials, he adds.
In late April, WBD’s shareholders approved its sale to Paramount, following an offer that ended the long-running battle for control with streaming giant Netflix, which had stepped back in February.
Paramount said in May that it expected to complete the acquisition in the third quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval and despite a campaign of opposition from thousands of Hollywood creators, who believe that the takeover of WBD could harm the industry.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has launched an “active investigation” into the operation and is keeping open the possibility of filing a lawsuit to block it, despite regulatory approval, the media outlet noted, according to Agencia EFE.
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