Judge allows Paramount to close $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif.; Paramount Pictures lot in Los Angeles.Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Steve KopackA California judge on Wednesday formally approved Paramount Skydance’s settlement with California and other states, the final hurdle required for it to close its $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The seismic merger will bring together the likes of CBS News and CNN, HBO Max and Paramount+ and storied film studios Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures.

After the deal was approved by the U.S. Justice Department, the European Commission and dozens of other countries worldwide, it was held back by a lawsuit led by California’s democratic attorney general Rob Bonta.

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Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, reached a deal with the states on Sept. 21, which will require the combined company to release at least 30 films a year and set up an editorial board to oversee both CNN and CBS News.

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agentsFOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source saysFOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new America.gov AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years agoFOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stageFOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammatesFOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticismFOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coastsFOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisisFOR SUBSCRIBERSMore oil is getting out of the Middle East. Why is it still so expensive?FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe complicated bargain between ‘looksmaxxing’ influencer Clavicular and the women in his orbitFOR SUBSCRIBERSSenators unveil bipartisan bill to deliver essential newborn supply kits to new momsFOR SUBSCRIBERSAI agents promise to run your errands. Websites are fighting back.FOR SUBSCRIBERSDemocrats face a staggering spending disadvantage in Georgia’s tight race for governorFOR SUBSCRIBERSObama boosts Senate Democrats with October fundraiserFOR SUBSCRIBERSTheir owner is suspended, their draft picks taken. The Clippers still believe they can win.The merged company will also invest more than $1 billion in U.S. film production and worker training.

The companies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Steve KopackSteve Kopack is a senior reporter at NBC News covering business and the economy.