Paramount Skydance clears global regulatory hurdles for Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, with approvals in nearly 70 countries
August 15, 2026 14.22 Europe/London By Robert Briel

Paramount Skydance Corporation has received every regulatory approval required under its merger agreement to close the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a major milestone in an eight‑month review process that spanned 68 jurisdictions worldwide.

The company announced that Mexico granted its clearance Friday, August 14, completing a global sequence of approvals that included the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Brazil, China, COMESA, and the US Department of Justice.

According to Paramount, regulators across these markets independently assessed the deal using modern definitions of how audiences consume entertainment and how media companies compete. In each case, authorities found no basis to block the transaction. Paramount says it could close the merger immediately were it not for ongoing litigation brought by twelve US state attorneys general, led by California.

Paramount CEO David Ellison said the worldwide consensus demonstrates that the merger is pro‑competitive and beneficial for consumers and workers. He noted that the only remaining obstacle is the lawsuit filed by the twelve states, which he argues stands in contrast to the findings of regulators around the world. Ellison urged the attorneys general to engage constructively, saying the company has repeatedly attempted to resolve the dispute and has offered commitments similar to those accepted by regulators in other countries.

Ellison added that prolonging the litigation imposes unnecessary costs, including penalty fees, legal expenses and business disruption. He warned that the delay affects stakeholders such as pension and state retirement funds and forces Paramount to consider how to absorb additional financial burdens while preserving the long‑term strength of the combined company. He argued that a settlement would better serve workers, consumers and the creative community in the twelve states.

Paramount also highlighted that regulators examining the same competitive issues rejected the core theories advanced by the state attorneys general. Authorities in multiple jurisdictions concluded that the merger does not threaten competition in theatrical film distribution, film production or linear television. The UK Competition and Markets Authority found that the deal does not present a realistic prospect of substantially reducing competition. The European Commission determined that streaming platforms offering children’s content would continue to constrain the merged entity’s television channels, rejecting the notion of a cable‑only competitive landscape. The U.S. Department of Justice similarly noted that streaming services compete aggressively and exert increasing pressure on legacy broadcast and linear networks.

With global regulatory approval now secured, the future of the merger rests entirely on the resolution of the state‑level litigation. Paramount maintains that combining the two companies would create a stronger competitor with greater capacity to invest in premium content, support creative talent and deliver higher‑quality entertainment to audiences worldwide.