Paramount’s Makan Delrahim Says Threat to Move Out of California ‘Was Not a Bluff’
TheGrill 2026: The media giant's chief legal officer unpacks how the settlement with 12 state AGs came together and addresses concerns around politics and CNN's independence The post Paramount’s Makan Delrahim Says Threat to Move Out of California ‘Was Not a Bluff’ appeared first on TheWrap .
Paramount's CEO David Ellison faced pressure to move his company's operations out of California, impacting thousands of jobs and billions in economic output. However, his Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim insisted this was not a bluff, but rather part of a strategy. Delrahim argued that the 12 state attorneys general's case against Paramount-WBD lacked merit due to the combined market share of competing studios, which would reduce the case's success probability.
Despite ongoing disputes, Delrahim credited Ellison's personal involvement and genuine approach in negotiations as crucial to securing the settlement. The agreement requires commitments to invest in domestic production, maintain theatrical releases, and set up independent editorial boards for CNN and CBS News, among other stipulations.
The settlement, though deemed "weak and unenforceable" by some, was approved by Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin. Delrahim dismissed concerns about CNN's independence and addressed accusations of antisemitism, stating that those who opposed the merger were being silly in seeking retaliation.
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