A federal judge has scheduled the antitrust trial over Paramount's proposed $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to begin on March 2, 2027. The trial is expected to last 12 court days. This timeline is later than the November 2026 start date Paramount had requested. California Attorney General Rob Bonta had petitioned for an April 2027 start.

The delay is anticipated to be costly for Paramount due to a "ticking fee" in its agreement with Warner. This fee involves quarterly payments of approximately $650 million to Warner shareholders, commencing in October, until the transaction is finalized. A dozen states have initiated legal action to block the merger.