Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery have agreed to pause their $110bn (£82.8bn) merger until June 2027 while a judge weighs upon a legal challenge against the tie-up. Despite the court freeze, Paramount and Warner Bros insist that combining their operations is essential to compete with digital streaming giants and tech conglomerates. Paramount hailed the agreement as a "significant win", stating it provides a "direct path to a trial based on the evidence". With preliminary court battles now bypassed, legal teams for both sides must submit a proposed trial schedule by 31 July. Until a judge reaches a final verdict – or until 1 June 2027 – Paramount and Warner Bros will remain completely separate, competing operations.