Mastodawn

Newsom Bulks Up California’s Antitrust War Chest As AG Contemplates Paramount WBD Merger Battle
#News #Politics #Antitrust #DepartmentOfJustice #DonaldTrump #GavinNewsom #LiveNation #Nexstar #Paramount #ParamountWBD #RobBonta #Wbd

https://deadline.com/2026/05/newsom-paramount-warner-bros-merger-legal-fight-1236904942/

Gavin Newsom Bulks Up California’s Antitrust War Chest As State AG Contemplates Paramount-WBD Merger Battle

New antitrust funding in Gavin Newsom's last budget as California governor could be a clue about the state's plans around the Paramount-WBD merger.

Deadline

Deadline May 12

Paramount Defends Warner Bros. Discovery Merger In Letter To California AG, Says Combined Companies Will Have Incentive To Boost Theatrical
#News #Politics #ElectionLine #MakanDelrahim #Paramount #RobBonta #Warnerbrosdiscovery

https://deadline.com/2026/05/paramount-warner-bros-california-attorney-general-letter-1236899772/

Paramount Defends Warner Bros. Discovery Merger In Letter To California AG, Says Combined Companies Will Have Incentive To Boost Theatrical

The company said that the merger would boost the theatrical experience.

Deadline

Variety [Unofficial]May 7

California Attorney General Urged by Dems to ‘Closely Scrutinize’ Paramount-W.B. Merger

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://variety.com/2026/biz/news/rob-bonta-paramount-warner-bros-merger-letter-1236739542/

Variety May 7

California Attorney General Urged by Dems to ‘Closely Scrutinize’ Paramount-W.B. Merger
#Variety #News #Paramount #RobBonta #WarnerBros

https://variety.com/2026/biz/news/rob-bonta-paramount-warner-bros-merger-letter-1236739542/

California Attorney General Urged to Scrutinize Paramount-W.B. Merger

A group of 34 Congressional Democrats urged Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday to carefully scrutinize the Paramount-W.B. merger.

Variety

The Bad Place Apr 24

9News | Shareholders approve $114 billion Hollywood mega merger by 9News

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders have overwhelmingly approved Paramount’s hostile bid to acquire the company for roughly $113.5 billion (about $31–$43 per share), moving the blockbuster merger— which would unite two of Hollywood’s remaining legacy studios, the HBO Max and Paramount+ streaming services, and the CBS and CNN news divisions—closer to completion. The deal, valued at around $111 billion including debt, still faces antitrust scrutiny and regulatory reviews, with critics and advocacy groups warning that further consolidation could lead to layoffs, higher prices, reduced content diversity, and increased political influence. While Paramount executives tout potential consumer benefits from larger content libraries, opponents ranging from industry professionals to state attorneys‑general and several U.S. senators have pledged to challenge the transaction, emphasizing concerns over job losses and diminished competition in the media landscape.

#WarnerBros. #Paramount #DavidZaslav #DavidEllison #RobBonta #ElizabethWarren #LarryEllison

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Warner Bros shareholders approve Paramount's $113.5 billion takeover of the Hollywood giant

<p>Many critics have sounded the alarm on joining two of Hollywood's biggest remaining five studios.</p>

9News

The Bad Place Apr 21

Business | Atty. Gen. Bonta says evidence reveals how Amazon pressured Levi's, other retailers to hike prices by Laurence Darmiento

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

A recent filing in a California price‑fixing lawsuit alleges that Amazon pressured brands—including Levi Strauss—to convince competitors such as Walmart and Chewy to raise their prices, exemplified by Amazon’s request that Levi’s persuade Walmart to lift the price of Levi’s Easy Khaki Classic pants after the retailer matched a lower price; the document cites about a dozen similar instances in which Amazon allegedly used its market power to coordinate price increases, threaten vendors, and temporarily remove products from rivals, a strategy Attorney General Rob Bonta says inflates costs for American consumers. The filing supports a preliminary injunction Bonta is seeking ahead of a trial scheduled for January, with a hearing on the injunction request set for July 23, and builds on earlier antitrust actions by California and the FTC that accuse Amazon of stifling competition and overcharging sellers.

#RobBonta #Amazon #Walmart #FTC

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

California releases evidence of alleged Amazon price-fixing scheme

California AG Rob Bonta, in a court filing Monday, offered evidence to support allegations that Amazon pressured Levi Strauss and other vendors to raise prices at rivals like Walmart to stifle online competition.

Los Angeles Times

Bongolian Apr 20

It wouldn't surprise me if the last few human employees at Amazon are engaged solely in price-fixing duties.

George Joseph: Emails show #Amazon colluding with other firms to raise prices, #California authorities allege. The previously redacted messages were unveiled as part of an #antitrust battle with California attorney general Rob Bonta.

#RobBonta
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/20/amazon-sellers-price-raises-california

Emails show Amazon colluding with other firms to raise prices, California authorities allege

The previously redacted messages were unveiled as part of an antitrust battle with California’s attorney general

The Guardian

Deadline Apr 18

Nexstar Decries $6.2B Tegna Deal Being Blocked By Judge, Vows Appeal
#Legal #News #Politics #DonaldTrump #FCC #LetitiaJames #Nexstar #NexstarTegnaDeal #RobBonta #Tegna

https://deadline.com/2026/04/nexstar-responds-tegna-merger-blocked-1236864817/

Nexstar Decries $6.2B Tegna Deal Being Blocked By Judge, Vows Appeal

Thwarted today in what looked to be a Donald Trump approved $6.2 billion local station mega-deal to merge with Tegna, Nexstar are vowing to march forward in the courts

Deadline

Deadline Apr 18

Nexstar-Tegna Merger Frozen As Antitrust Battle Continues; CA AG Says “This Merger Is Illegal, Plain & Simple”
#Legal #News #Politics #DirecTV #ElectionLine #FCC #Nexstar #NexstarTegnaDeal #RobBonta #Tegna

https://deadline.com/2026/04/nexstar-tegna-merger-blocked-2-1236784770/

Nexstar-Tegna Merger Frozen As Antitrust Battle Continues; CA AG Says “This Merger Is Illegal, Plain & Simple”

A federal judge just put a halt to Nexstar's proposed $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, putting in doubt the combination of the companies to create a broadcast station giant - at least for now

Deadline

Deadline Apr 16

Live Nation Turn Up The Heat After Monopoly Trial Loss: “Jury’s Verdict Is Not The Last Word On This Matter”
#Legal #News #DonaldTrump #LeticiaJames #LiveNation #MichaelRapino #PamBondi #RobBonta #Ticketmaster

https://deadline.com/2026/04/live-nation-reaction-lawsuit-loss-1236862235/

Live Nation Turns Up The Heat After Monopoly Trial Loss: “Jury’s Verdict Is Not The Last Word On This Matter”

Live Nation isn't turning the other cheek to a stinging jury verdict today that labeled the Ticketmaster-owning concert and talent promoter as a monopoly.

Deadline