"If Paramount is already leaving for Tennessee (or perhaps Texas), why would Bonta give concessions to a company that isn’t even Californian?"
Ans: to mitigate potential losses.
This is deja vu all over again. Warner Brothers started in my home town. They and most othjer movie producers moved to California to avoid reguation in the east and litigation from Thomas Alva Edison.
Larry Ellison has recently moved his residence to the tax haven, South Florida, as many others, like Jeff Bezos.
A deeper look might find that this is just smoke and mirrors and the the real planned outcome is quite different. These rich people have been working with Trump and we have lost a lot with them at the helm - for their wealth. Long ago the Saudi' wanted to buy Hollywood and the richest wanted to use actor AI images -the long game will let Ellison buy another island and kill our industry. And Trump will invest and take a bribe. How much money do these people need? Retire please!
NYT By Benjamin MullinDavid McCabeShawn Hubler and Laurel Rosenhall
Sept. 21, 2026, 11:03 a.m. ET
"Paramount reached an agreement on Monday to resolve an antitrust lawsuit delaying its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to four people familiar with the negotiations, eliminating the last significant barrier to the creation of an entertainment and media colossus.
"A group of states, led by California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, a Democrat, sued Paramount in July, arguing that an acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery would concentrate too much power over cable TV and blockbuster films under one company.
"After weeks of on-again-off-again negotiations, Paramount and the states agreed to a number of concessions to complete the deal, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public. The entertainment giant has agreed to establish a board of journalists to ensure the editorial independence of CNN and CBS News and committed to distributing 30 movies in theaters every year. The company also pledged to spend an additional $1.5 billion on film production over the next five years".
I am not a Paramount shareholder. I assume that all state pension funds are. Same for most retirement funds. There's a financial yin and yang that is beyond politics. My home town never recuperated from the loss of more than just Warner. The entire manufacturing base was relocated, first to the south, later to China and India.
If Bonta caves it will once again validate why so many people consider Democrats to be weak. He had better find his spine and bring a bazooka to this gunfight.
Well, if daddy Ellison is moving to Tennessee, then baby Ellison has to move also. Where or what would he be without his daddy's money? He has never accomplished anything on his own.
Once the Dot-com--errr, AI--bubble pops, the Ellison empire will be the first liquidated. Even a slight slowdown in the AI market could mean financial disaster for Ellison.
This article makes a lot of sense! I hope Rob Bonta has the where with all to call Ellison's bluff, and not hold the great state of California to threats and bullying! The Ellison's cannot be trusted!
I strongly urge everyone to read Anne Applebaum’s article, “Empire of Grift” in the October issue of The Atlantic magazine. It is an eye opening account of the people inside the government working to take down our democracy for their own power and enrichment. Very scary and sickening.
"Paramount paid for a study that forecasts big harms to California if Paramount left the state. "
And we're just supposed to take their word for it? Really? An independent study with all of the facts and figures should be evaluated by someone other than one of the merger's contenders.
"No company should be permitted to bully a state into abandoning its job of protecting consumers against increased market power."
That says it all in a nutshell. It's time to tell Larry Ellison to pound sand. Making concessions will only encourage him to call for increased blackmail, threats, and concessions.
Such a smart analysis. Thank you. Hope AGS are listening. 💔🇺🇸
"If Paramount is already leaving for Tennessee (or perhaps Texas), why would Bonta give concessions to a company that isn’t even Californian?"
Ans: to mitigate potential losses.
This is deja vu all over again. Warner Brothers started in my home town. They and most othjer movie producers moved to California to avoid reguation in the east and litigation from Thomas Alva Edison.
Larry Ellison has recently moved his residence to the tax haven, South Florida, as many others, like Jeff Bezos.
A deeper look might find that this is just smoke and mirrors and the the real planned outcome is quite different. These rich people have been working with Trump and we have lost a lot with them at the helm - for their wealth. Long ago the Saudi' wanted to buy Hollywood and the richest wanted to use actor AI images -the long game will let Ellison buy another island and kill our industry. And Trump will invest and take a bribe. How much money do these people need? Retire please!
Flash: All 12 AGs are all in.
NYT By Benjamin MullinDavid McCabeShawn Hubler and Laurel Rosenhall
Sept. 21, 2026, 11:03 a.m. ET
"Paramount reached an agreement on Monday to resolve an antitrust lawsuit delaying its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to four people familiar with the negotiations, eliminating the last significant barrier to the creation of an entertainment and media colossus.
"A group of states, led by California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, a Democrat, sued Paramount in July, arguing that an acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery would concentrate too much power over cable TV and blockbuster films under one company.
"After weeks of on-again-off-again negotiations, Paramount and the states agreed to a number of concessions to complete the deal, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public. The entertainment giant has agreed to establish a board of journalists to ensure the editorial independence of CNN and CBS News and committed to distributing 30 movies in theaters every year. The company also pledged to spend an additional $1.5 billion on film production over the next five years".
I am not a Paramount shareholder. I assume that all state pension funds are. Same for most retirement funds. There's a financial yin and yang that is beyond politics. My home town never recuperated from the loss of more than just Warner. The entire manufacturing base was relocated, first to the south, later to China and India.
IMHO AI started with Steamboat Willy.....
Call Paramount's bluff.
Bonta must do so if wants to preserve his political future. If he caves, he'll never hold political office ever again.
If Bonta caves it will once again validate why so many people consider Democrats to be weak. He had better find his spine and bring a bazooka to this gunfight.
Zero concessions to paramount. Bonta must hold the line for California
Well, if daddy Ellison is moving to Tennessee, then baby Ellison has to move also. Where or what would he be without his daddy's money? He has never accomplished anything on his own.
Great analysis, Fiona, Gene and Norm!
And how much money do Daddy and Baby Ellison actually have? Are they more heavily leveraged than they want people to know?
They are VERY heavily leveraged.
Once the Dot-com--errr, AI--bubble pops, the Ellison empire will be the first liquidated. Even a slight slowdown in the AI market could mean financial disaster for Ellison.
This article makes a lot of sense! I hope Rob Bonta has the where with all to call Ellison's bluff, and not hold the great state of California to threats and bullying! The Ellison's cannot be trusted!
California’s AG will become a super hero if he calls Ellison’s bluff.
Thank you for providing this careful economic analysis from people who know how to find the figures behind the rhetoric.
Great article. Thank you
I strongly urge everyone to read Anne Applebaum’s article, “Empire of Grift” in the October issue of The Atlantic magazine. It is an eye opening account of the people inside the government working to take down our democracy for their own power and enrichment. Very scary and sickening.
Thanks for this! Yes, AG Bonta, take this advice!
No Caving AG
Don't settle. Meet them in court. Call their bluff.
Yes, we hope Bonta takes this advice!
Screw Paramount, they will hurt no one but themselves, and boycotts will happen
The boycotts have already begun, which is why Ellison is so desperate for this deal that will further enrich him and devastate the industry.
Please sign the petition:
https://noparamountconcessions.com
"Paramount paid for a study that forecasts big harms to California if Paramount left the state. "
And we're just supposed to take their word for it? Really? An independent study with all of the facts and figures should be evaluated by someone other than one of the merger's contenders.
"No company should be permitted to bully a state into abandoning its job of protecting consumers against increased market power."
That says it all in a nutshell. It's time to tell Larry Ellison to pound sand. Making concessions will only encourage him to call for increased blackmail, threats, and concessions.