Paramount has agreed to freeze its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery until as late as June 2027. Twelve states have argued that the deal would create a "media behemoth" that would harm the US entertainment industry.

Both sides are jockeying for an edge in preliminary injunction proceedings.

A group of state attorneys general have challenged the merger in a lawsuit, alleging it would drastically reduce competition and harm consumers.

Paramount said they would halt the merger until either the remedy of its legal battle or June 1, 2027, whichever date comes sooner.