# California's gamble with Paramount could cost 58,000 jobs

> Attorney General Rob Bonta's antitrust lawsuit against Paramount risks driving the studio out of state, threatening Hollywood's future.
- Title: California's gamble with Paramount could cost 58,000 jobs
- Summary: Attorney General Rob Bonta's antitrust lawsuit against Paramount risks driving the studio out of state, threatening Hollywood's future. Blocking the…
- Keywords: rob bonta, paramount pictures, skydance merger, warner bros discovery, antitrust lawsuit, california economy, hollywood jobs, entertainment industry, media consolidation, california attorney general, news, entertainment
- Source: California Post — https://nypost.com/2026/09/16/opinion/the-cost-of-rob-bontas-fight-against-paramount-deal
- Published: 2026-09-16T11:43:37+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: rob bonta, paramount pictures, skydance merger, warner bros discovery, antitrust lawsuit, california economy, hollywood jobs, entertainment industry, media consolidation, california attorney general, news, entertainment
## Paramount threatens to leave California
The studio says it will relocate if Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state attorneys general don't drop their antitrust lawsuit blocking the Paramount-Skydance merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
## The economic cost is staggering
Losing Paramount would cost California $21 billion and nearly 58,000 jobs, according to the LA County Economic Development Corporation's Institute for Applied Economics.
## Hollywood is already hemorrhaging jobs
The entertainment industry has already lost over 40,000 jobs, representing 30% of its peak workforce, in just the last few years. Another major studio departure would signal LA is no longer the entertainment capital.
## Bonta's track record on mergers
Bonta backed California's lawsuit against JetBlue and Spirit's merger in 2024, claiming it would protect consumers. Spirit failed anyway, and airline passengers now have fewer choices.
## Politics may be driving the lawsuit
Democrats are reportedly upset that CNN might become less left-leaning under new ownership, as with Paramount's CBS News. The lawsuit may reflect partisan concerns rather than genuine consumer protection.
## California must make a deal
A judge ordered the state to sit down with Paramount for two days of talks next month. Bonta must set politics aside and negotiate a settlement to protect California's entertainment industry.
## Key takeaway

Blocking the Paramount-Skydance merger could accelerate California's loss of entertainment industry jobs and investment.