Paramount has asked a federal judge to hold a three-day evidentiary hearing in August as she considers whether to issue a preliminary injunction that would stop its planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The request comes after U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin issued a temporary restraining order on Monday, which put the transaction on hold for a short period while legal arguments continue.
Paramount’s proposal aims to present evidence and testimony during the hearing later this summer. The judge will then decide if a longer-term injunction is necessary to prevent the merger from moving forward until a full trial can take place. The case centers on whether the combination of the two media companies would violate antitrust laws or harm competition.
The temporary restraining order was the first step in blocking the deal temporarily. Now, the court must determine if the merger should be paused for a longer duration. Both sides are expected to submit legal arguments before the hearing date.
If granted, the preliminary injunction would halt the merger until the court makes a final decision. The outcome could significantly affect the media landscape, as Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are major players in film, television, and streaming.
A date for the evidentiary hearing has not yet been set.