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Paramount is Ready to Leave California, Sources Say
The studio is weighing a move to pressure regulators as a $7 million daily fee and merger litigation continue to mount, officials said.
Paramount appeared poised to announce a dramatic exit from California on Tuesday, but the expected statement never arrived, leaving Los Angeles officials unsure whether CEO David Ellison changed course or postponed the announcement.
Golden State Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other state AGs sued to block Paramount's proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery, claiming the deal reduces market competition.
An L.A. County Economic Development Corporation report warned that a departure could cause the 'permanent loss of approximately 28,990 to 57,980 full-time jobs,' while Paramount faces a $7-million-a-day ticking fee starting October 1.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass remains focused on protecting local entertainment jobs, with City Hall stating she will 'continue to fight to make sure L.A. is home to Hollywood.'
Paramount faces a long wait for the March 2, 2027 antitrust trial, with a hearing next week over the company's $1.88 billion bond request, while rumors persist about potential relocations to Texas, Tennessee, or Georgia.