Paramount reaches settlement with states in $110bn Warner Bros merger – BBC

Paramount reaches settlement with states in $110bn Warner Bros merger  BBCCNN’s Future Will Include an Editorial Oversight Board  The New York TimesCommentary: A ‘fight worth fighting’: Paramount settlement is less than desired, more than nothing  latimes.comParamount to Settle Lawsuits, Paving Way for Warner Bros. Merger  Bloomberg.comDavid Ellison: Me, Move? I Love L.A.  The Hollywood Reporter

The deal includes an agreement to produce 30 films a year, or Paramount will be forced to sell off parts of its company. Paramount Skydance has settled a lawsuit with a dozen US states, paving the way for its $110bn (£82.8bn) merger with Warner Bros Discovery. Under the agreement, Paramount must produce at least 30 films a year and ensure a certain percentage are produced in the US, or face penalties including selling off parts of its business. The deal clears one of the final hurdles for the merger that is set to reshape Hollywood, combining legacy studios, major streamers, and national networks under one umbrella.

Announcing the settlement, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the agreement was "not a vote of support for this merger", while Parmount's chief executive welcomed the resolution. David Ellison said that now the state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) concerns had been addressed, "we have complete clearance for this merger and look forward to putting these commitments into action". "Our shared aim was an outcome that best serves consumers, workers and – most importantly -the creative community so vital to the