Judge pauses $110B Paramount-Warner Bros. merger
Judge pauses $110B Paramount-Warner Bros. merger
法官叫停派拉蒙与华纳兄弟 1100 亿美元的合并案
Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has hit a roadblock after a judge temporarily paused the deal in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 12 state attorneys general who argue that the merger would harm competition. 派拉蒙天空之舞（Paramount Skydance）对华纳兄弟探索公司（WBD）的拟议收购遭遇阻碍。在 12 位州总检察长联合提起诉讼，称该合并将损害市场竞争后，一位法官已暂时叫停了这笔交易。
U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín issued a 14-day pause on Monday after hearing arguments from both sides last week. The coalition, which is being led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, could seek another pause after the 14 days, further delaying the merger. 美国地方法院法官阿拉塞利·马丁内斯-奥尔金（Araceli Martínez-Olguín）在上周听取了双方的辩论后，于周一发布了为期 14 天的暂停令。由加州总检察长罗伯·邦塔（Rob Bonta）领导的该联盟可能会在 14 天后寻求再次延长暂停期，从而进一步推迟合并进程。
The lawsuit from the states alleges that the deal would harm movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and audiences. They argue that if the two companies are allowed to merge, it would lessen competition in three areas: wide release theatrical film distribution, “top-grossing” theatrical distribution, and basic cable licensing. 各州提起的诉讼称，该交易将损害电影院、基础有线电视分销商和观众的利益。他们认为，如果允许这两家公司合并，将削弱以下三个领域的竞争：大规模院线电影发行、“高票房”院线发行以及基础有线电视授权。
“This is a critical first win in our case to ensure this megamerger never sees the light of day,” said Attorney General Bonta in a statement. “History tells the tale of what happens when a few people have great power over markets that are central to Americans’ lives: fewer opportunities for more people, worse products and services for all people. With our lawsuit, we’re fighting for a free and fair market and a thriving film and television industry that serves creatives and audiences alike. We have a full tank of gas, the law on our side, and look forward to continuing to make our case.” “这是我们确保这项巨额合并案永不见天日的关键首胜，”总检察长邦塔在一份声明中表示。“历史告诉我们，当少数人对美国人生活核心的市场拥有巨大权力时会发生什么：更多人的机会减少，所有人的产品和服务质量下降。通过这次诉讼，我们正在为自由公平的市场以及服务于创作者和观众的繁荣影视产业而战。我们已做好充分准备，法律站在我们这一边，我们期待继续推进我们的诉讼主张。”
The deal would combine two notable film studios as well as streaming platforms Paramount+ and HBO Max. It would also create one of the largest portfolios of television networks, bringing together Paramount’s CBS and MTV with WBD’s CNN and HBO. 该交易将合并两家知名电影制片厂以及 Paramount+ 和 HBO Max 流媒体平台。它还将打造规模最大的电视网络组合之一，将派拉蒙旗下的 CBS 和 MTV 与华纳兄弟探索旗下的 CNN 和 HBO 整合在一起。
“We are confident the evidence will demonstrate that the State AGs’ antitrust arguments are without merit as their alleged markets and claims of anticompetitive effects are without any basis in modern market realities,” a spokesperson for Paramount said in a statement to TechCrunch. “This merger is lawful, pro-competitive, and will benefit consumers, creators, workers, and the entertainment industry. We will continue to vigorously defend the transaction and will look forward to the hearings on the substance of the State AGs’ action.” “我们相信证据将证明各州总检察长的反垄断论点毫无根据，因为他们所称的市场和关于反竞争影响的说法在现代市场现实中没有任何依据，”派拉蒙的一位发言人在给 TechCrunch 的声明中表示。“此次合并合法且有利于竞争，将使消费者、创作者、工人和娱乐业受益。我们将继续积极捍卫这笔交易，并期待就各州总检察长诉讼的实质内容进行听证。”
Paramount CEO David Ellison had said in May that the transaction was on track to close by September. The legal roadblock has the potential to derail Paramount’s efforts to transform into a major competitor to companies like Netflix. 派拉蒙首席执行官大卫·埃里森（David Ellison）曾在 5 月表示，该交易有望在 9 月前完成。这一法律障碍有可能破坏派拉蒙转型为 Netflix 等公司主要竞争对手的努力。
The proposed acquisition has received scrutiny from filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals who argued that the deal would reduce competition and further consolidate the U.S. media industry. WBD did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s requests for comment. 此次拟议的收购受到了电影制作人、演员和行业专业人士的审视，他们认为该交易将减少竞争并进一步整合美国媒体行业。华纳兄弟探索公司没有立即回应 TechCrunch 的置评请求。