Block the Merger Coalition Files Brief Calling Paramount-Warner Settlm

A coalition of advocacy groups filed their amicus brief overnight ahead of the 12:01am PT deadline Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin set at Thursday's hearing, formally asking the court to reject the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery settlement, according to Variety and Deadline. The brief was filed by Free Press, the Committee for the First Amendment, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, the Future Film Coalition and the International Documentary Association. "Since the terms of the consent decree were announced on Monday morning, few outside of those with a financial interest in this deal have suggested that it addresses the harms to competition, creativity, and independent journalism this merger will cause for years to come," the coalition said in a joint statement. "The deal has been met with silence, skepticism, or tepid support at best... The court should reject it outright." The League of United Latin American Citizens filed a separate amicus brief opposing the settlement. The coalition also proposed a briefing schedule stretching to October 13, which Paramount called improper, arguing further delay would "inflict massive harm" on the company; Paramount already faces a roughly million-a-day fee to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders for every day past September 30 the deal remains unclosed. The settlement itself remains split even among the officials who negotiated it: Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said his office had wanted full divestiture of CNN and CBS News and did not get it, while industry groups including IATSE and the Directors Guild of America have praised the deal for bringing stability and enforceable protections. Paramount and the states still owe the court a response to Senator Cory Booker's letter by noon PT Monday, September 28. Judge Martinez-Olguin has not indicated when she will rule.