Arizona Attorney General (AG) Kris Mayes has successfully secured a temporary restraining order against the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount Skydance Corporation merger, a move she is celebrating in a recent statement.
The Context
Last week, AG Mayes joined 12 other attorneys general to stop the merger, which they argue would significantly reduce meaningful competition in the film and streaming industries, raising prices for movies and television.
"If this merger goes through, Arizonans could face higher prices to see new movies and to access basic cable channels," AG Mayes previously said. "Consolidation in industry after industry will only lead us in one direction: higher prices and degraded quality and service for Arizonans. We cannot let that happen."
The New Development
On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted the suing states a temporary restraining order on the merger, keeping it from happening while the court considers ruling on a preliminary injunction.
"This merger violates federal law and will drive up prices for Arizonans and could lead to job losses across our state," AG Mayes said in response to the restraining order. "I'm grateful the court issued a TRO so the issues surrounding this unlawful mega-merger can be properly adjudicated."
Mayes Isn't Alone
The Attorney General is not the only Arizona official opposed to the merger, as Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) previously wrote on social media, "Warner Bros and Paramount want you to believe this merger is about competing with streaming giants."
"It's really about two companies getting bigger while workers pay the price," Sen. Gallego continued. "I raised these concerns with DOJ back in the spring. Arizona has 11,600 jobs and $530 million in labor income tied to movie theaters, all put at risk and the DOJ signed off on the merger anyway. Now Arizona and 11 other states are stepping in to do what the federal government wouldn't."
