California sues to block Paramount-Warner Bros deal

California and 11 other US states are suing to block Paramount’s $110bn deal to buy Warner Bros.

California and 11 other US states are suing to block Paramount's $110bn deal to buy Warner Bros. Rob Bonta, California's attorney general, led a coalition on Monday in filing a lawsuit challenging the deal, which has already received approval from the US Department of Justice. Mr Bonta said the deal would harm competition and be bad for audience. He said: "Today, I am leading a coalition of states in challenging the proposed merger of Warner Bros and Paramount and asking the court to block the deal.

"The unlawful merger of these two entertainment behemoths would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and television, harming movie theatres, basic cable distributors and ultimately audiences on every sofa and movie theatre seat in the US." This is a developing story.