The long-awaited Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger could finally be entering its last stretch. After months of regulatory hurdles and legal battles, a new report says David Ellison and Paramount are now preparing to complete the $110 billion deal as soon as next week.
According to CNN, September 30 served as Paramount’s unofficial internal deadline before the merger’s costly “ticking fee” kicks in on October 1. However, that deadline has become far less significant now that Paramount reached a settlement with the state attorneys general challenging the transaction.
With that major obstacle largely out of the way, Ellison and his team have shifted their attention to getting the merger across the finish line. Sources told CNN that Paramount intends to complete the merger next week, with the new name of the combined company potentially being unveiled as soon as October 1.
There’s still one legal hurdle remaining before everything becomes official. Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, who has been overseeing the antitrust case, must still approve the settlement reached between Paramount and the states.
Behind the scenes, work is already accelerating. Paramount has launched a major bond offering to help finance the $110 billion acquisition, while executives continue preparing the combined company’s financial structure. The company is also pitching $6 billion in cost savings as part of its strategy to manage debt after the merger closes.
Leadership changes are already underway as well. Paramount streaming chief Cindy Holland has departed ahead of the merger, with more executive shakeups expected in the coming days. According to CNN, Paramount plans to announce the leadership team for the combined company before the deal officially closes so employees know exactly who’s running the business on “day one.”
Those announcements are also expected to provide a clearer picture of Paramount’s plans for CNN and CBS News, two of the biggest media brands that will become part of the combined company.
Last week, Paramount cleared one of its biggest hurdles by reaching a settlement with California and several other states that had challenged the merger on antitrust grounds. Now, barring any final legal complications, the company appears to be preparing for the biggest media merger in years to officially become a reality.
For wrestling fans, the deal remains especially noteworthy because Warner Bros. Discovery is AEW’s broadcast and streaming partner, making the merger one of the biggest corporate developments affecting the promotion’s media future.
What do you think the combined Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery company should be called? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
