Wire · regulatory
EU clears $110bn Paramount and Warner Bros merger, but it remains on hold in US
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Fusion42 · 23 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
EU regulators cleared Paramount's $110bn acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery after Paramount agreed to terminate its film distribution partnership with Universal in Europe. The deal remains blocked in the US, where a coalition of 12 states filed a lawsuit arguing the merger harms cinemas and cable distributors, and a federal judge has temporarily paused proceedings.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
If you supply cinema technology, advertising, or content to independent theatres, your survival depends on this deal failing in the US - the merged giant would have enough leverage to cut you out entirely. The ticking fee ($7m daily) means this gets decided in weeks, not months.
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18 sources · first reported 19 Jul 2026 · latest 6 Aug 2026
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