Judge Scrutinizes Paramount-WBD Merger Conditions Over Public Benefit Concerns

A US judge is reviewing the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery amid concerns about its terms. During proceedings, the court was told that the current conditions attached to the deal offer the public virtually no meaningful benefit. The judge also emphasized that any settlement reached with California must not be the product of collusion between the parties. The case highlights growing regulatory scrutiny over major media consolidations and whether they serve the broader public interest.