Oregon drops motion to delay Paramount-Warner Bros. merger

Oregon's attorney general has withdrawn a court motion that would have delayed the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger by 60 days, removing a hurdle before a possible July 22 close. The oregon drops motion delay filing still leaves active antitrust probes by Oregon, California, and other states into the $111 billion transaction.

The Oregon attorney general's office filed the withdrawal Friday in Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland, according to Variety. The retreat comes days after Attorney General Dan Rayfield sought a 60-day extension to the closing date, arguing that Paramount Skydance had been slow to respond to records requests tied to his antitrust review.

Key Takeaways

• Oregon withdrew both its 60-day delay motion and its demand for Project Warrior regulatory records.
• The Paramount-Warner Bros. deal could close as soon as July 22 if no injunction blocks it.
• Oregon and California continue investigating whether the $111 billion merger violates state antitrust laws.
• Paramount called the withdrawal the right decision for a lawful, pro-competitive merger.
• The company still needs approval from the European Commission and the United Kingdom.

Why did Oregon seek a delay?

On Wednesday, Rayfield asked the court for extra time, contending his investigators needed more room because Paramount Skydance had not been responsive to records requests. The state sought documents and answers about lobbying of the White House and the Department of Justice, suggesting the DOJ may have improperly approved the merger in June.

The judge had scheduled a hearing for Monday morning, but the withdrawal rendered that motion moot before arguments began.

What is Project Warrior?

Along with the delay request, Rayfield's office withdrew its demand for records related to Project Warrior, the internal code name for Paramount's push to win regulatory approval of the deal. Paramount argued those materials were irrelevant to the antitrust questions Oregon is examining.

Can states still block the merger?

Yes. Even after Oregon drops motion delay tactics in court, several states, including Oregon and California, are still investigating whether the transaction breaks their antitrust statutes. Those offices could still pursue an injunction to halt the merger before the July 22 closing window.

For more consolidation and regulatory updates, follow our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.

What did Paramount say about the withdrawal?

“We are pleased that the Oregon Attorney General has withdrawn its motion to delay this transaction,” a company spokesperson told Variety. “It was the right decision and avoids an unwarranted effort to delay a lawful, pro-competitive merger.”

Paramount noted that antitrust authorities in Australia, Canada, and China have already cleared the deal, while reviews continue in Europe and the U.K. The company argues the combination will create a stronger challenger to dominant streaming and technology platforms.

The Oregon attorney general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment when Variety published its report.