Twelve states sue to block Paramount's $110bn Warner Bros. merger

A dozen US states are taking legal action to halt the largest media consolidation in Hollywood history.

1. Frame 1Twelve states sued to block Paramount's $110bn Warner Bros. purchase, saying the merged studio could raise prices for U.S. audiences.
2. Frame 2The suit targets a deal that would combine Paramount and Warner Bros. into one of the nation's largest media companies.
3. Frame 3States say the merger could curb competition and push up cable packages, movie tickets, and other costs for consumers.
4. Frame 4California-led attorneys general asked a court to stop the transaction before it closes under federal antitrust law.
5. Frame 5The combined company would control more than a quarter of major film releases, raising questions for creative workers and streaming households.
6. Frame 6Paramount calls the lawsuit flawed; the court fight now tests whether states can block the $110bn deal.