Judge Denies Consumer Group’s Injunction Request Against Paramount/WBD Merger

A group of Paramount+ subscribers recently sought a preliminary injunction to stop Paramount’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. However, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin denied their request, stating there wasn’t enough evidence to show immediate harm from the merger. The hearing in San Jose, Calif., included a challenge to the group’s attorney for relying on outdated antitrust rulings and not providing relevant case law. While the group argued that the merger would decrease competition and lead to higher subscription prices, Paramount pointed out that streaming price increases couldn’t be blamed on a merger that hadn’t occurred yet. Paramount+ has raised subscription prices three times since rebranding from CBS All Access in 2021. It’s essential to note that this denial does not affect the larger lawsuits against the merger, including a motion for a restraining order filed by 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America (WGA). The Paramount/WBD merger is currently set to close by September 30.