tags, separated by blank line. No other HTML. We must not include source attributions like "according to". Must avoid phrases like "according to". Also avoid "Paramount said". That's okay because it's not a source attribution phrase? It's a statement. The rule says remove phrases like 'source:', 'via:', 'according to', 'reported by', 'credit:', etc. So we can still say "Paramount said". That's not prohibited. However, we should avoid promotional content. The statement from Paramount spokesperson is okay as it's part of news. We need to remove any mention of external news outlets, websites, publications, or author names. The original text didn't have any except maybe "TechCrunch reports" etc not present. So fine. We need to ensure no URLs. There's none. We need to remove promotional content: The statement from Paramount is not promotional? It's a quote. It's okay. We need to ensure we don't mention "read more", etc. Not present. Now rewrite. We'll produce maybe 6-8 paragraphs. Paragraph 1: Announce delay of acquisition. Paragraph 2: Details of agreement date and court approval. Paragraph 3: Background of lawsuit and restraining order. Paragraph 4: Cancellation of hearing. Paragraph 5: Paramount statement. Paragraph 6: Statement from Attorney General Bonta. Paragraph 7: EU approval and DOJ approval context. Make sure each paragraph 2-4 sentences. Let's craft. Check for any prohibited phrases: "according to" we must avoid. We'll not use that. Check for "Paramount said" - okay. Check for "Bonta filed the lawsuit" - okay. Check for "the agreement also canceled the Aug. 3 hearing date" - okay. Check for "Paramount celebrated the agreement in a statement released Friday." That's okay. Check for "The spokesperson said the “plaintiffs’ market definitions bear no relationship to the realities of today’s marketplace and cannot withstand scrutiny,” adding that they “look forward to proving our case at trial.”" That's okay. Check for "Bonta also cheered the agreement as “great news.”" okay. Check for "The news of the agreement comes just two days after antitrust regulators from the European Union approved the deal." okay. Check for "The Trump administration’s Department of Justice had already approved the deal before California’s lawsuit halted its progress in the United States." okay. Now produce HTML paragraphs. Let's draft. Paragraph 1:
Paramount and Skydance have agreed to postpone their acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for up to ten months while a court reviews the merger’s legality.
The delay will remain in effect until either the resolution of the legal challenge brought by state attorneys general or June 1, 2027, whichever occurs first. The parties stipulated that the merger shall not close, be consummated, or otherwise be completed before that date, and U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez‑Olguin formally approved the arrangement on Friday.
Paragraph 3:The agreement follows a temporary restraining order issued by Judge Martinez‑Olguin on Monday, which had blocked the merger pending a hearing scheduled for August 3. California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed the lawsuit on July 13, contending that the $110 billion transaction would eliminate competition between Paramount and Warner Bros. and harm movie theaters, cable distributors, and audiences.
Paragraph 4:As part of the settlement, the August 3 hearing for a preliminary injunction has been cancelled.
Paragraph 5:Paramount characterized the agreement as a victory, stating that it provides a direct route to a trial where the company can demonstrate that the deal benefits competition, consumers, and creators. A spokesperson argued that the plaintiffs’ market definitions do not reflect current industry conditions and expressed confidence in prevailing at trial.
Paragraph 6:Attorney General Bonta welcomed the development, describing it as good news for audiences, theaters, and the creative community. He said his office will continue to pursue the case in court to prevent the merger from proceeding.
Paragraph 7:The announcement arrived just two days after antitrust regulators in the European Union cleared the deal. Earlier, the Department of Justice under the Trump administration had also granted approval before the California lawsuit interrupted the process in the United States.
Check each paragraph length: 2-4 sentences each. Paragraph 1: 1 sentence. That's less than 2. Need 2-4 sentences each. So we need to expand paragraph 1 to at least 2 sentences. Let's adjust. Paragraph 1: two sentences. Paragraph 2: maybe 3 sentences. Paragraph 3: 3 sentences. Paragraph 4: maybe 2 sentences. Paragraph 5: 3 sentences. Paragraph 6: 2-3 sentences. Paragraph 7: 2 sentences. Let's rewrite. Paragraph 1:Paramount and Skydance have agreed to postpone their acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for up to ten months while a court reviews the merger’s legality. The delay will remain in effect until either the resolution of the legal challenge brought by state attorneys general or June 1, 2027, whichever occurs first.
Paragraph 2:The parties stipulated that the merger shall not close, be consummated, or otherwise be completed before that date. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez‑Olguin formally approved the arrangement on Friday. This follows a temporary restraining order issued by the judge on Monday.
Paragraph 3:The restraining order had blocked the merger pending a hearing scheduled for August 3. California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed the lawsuit on July 13, contending that the $110 billion transaction would eliminate competition between Paramount and Warner Bros. and harm movie theaters, cable distributors, and audiences. As part of the settlement, the August 3 hearing for a preliminary injunction has been cancelled.
Paragraph 4:Paramount characterized the agreement as a victory, stating that it provides a direct route to a trial where the company can demonstrate that the deal benefits competition, consumers, and creators. A spokesperson argued that the plaintiffs’ market definitions do not reflect current industry conditions and expressed confidence in prevailing at trial.
Paragraph 5:Attorney General Bonta welcomed the development, describing it as good news for audiences, theaters, and the creative community. He said his office will continue to pursue the case in court to prevent the merger from proceeding.
Paragraph 6:The announcement arrived just two days after antitrust regulators in the European Union cleared the deal. Earlier, the Department of Justice under the Trump administration had also granted approval before the California lawsuit interrupted the process in the United States.
Now check each paragraph sentence count: Paragraph1: 2 sentences OK. Paragraph2: 3 sentences OK. Paragraph3: 3 sentences OK. Paragraph4: 2 sentences OK. Paragraph5: 2 sentences OK. Paragraph6: 2 sentences OK. Check for any prohibited phrases: "according to" none. "source:" none. "via:" none. "reported by" none. "credit:" none. "image credit:" none. "photo by" none. "courtesy of" none. "originally published on" none. "this article was written by" none. "this story first appeared on" none. Good. Check for mention of external news outlets, websites, publications, or author names: none. Check for promotional content: The quotes from Paramount and Bonta are fine; they are not promotional but statements. Check for any URLs: none. Check for any HTML other than: none. Make sure we have blank line between paragraphs. Return only HTML paragraphs. Let's produce final.
