Paramount Eyes Warner Bros Takeover as Netflix Bids Big
Netflix’s move to snap up Warner Bros has sent shockwaves through the industry, but Paramount isn’t backing down. With a bigger offer on the table, the battle for WB is heating up. Find out what’s at stake.
The entertainment world is buzzing as Netflix’s attempt to purchase Warner Bros has thrown a spanner in the works for traditional cinema releases. While many are worried about what this could mean for the future of films on the big screen, Paramount has its own reasons for concern. After three unsuccessful attempts, Paramount Skydance is now considering a hostile takeover, with boss David Ellison claiming their proposal outshines Netflix’s in every way.
Paramount’s All-Cash Bid Raises the Stakes
Netflix has put forward a hefty $82.7 billion offer, including debt, but Ellison’s camp has come in swinging with an all-cash bid that values the company at $108.4 billion. Unlike Netflix, which is only after Warner Bros’ film and streaming arms, Paramount’s offer covers the whole lot—TV business and all. With the bid now in the hands of shareholders, there’s a real chance this merger could go ahead, though nothing’s set in stone just yet.
Paramount’s move is a clear signal they’re not keen to let Netflix walk away with one of the industry’s biggest names. The competition is fierce, and the outcome could reshape the landscape for years to come.
Paramount Calls Out Netflix-WB Deal as Dodgy
After news broke that Netflix and Warner Bros were moving forward, Paramount fired off a letter to WBD’s CEO, David Zaslav, accusing the process of being compromised by management conflicts. The letter didn’t mince words, suggesting the whole thing was unfair and that the outcome had been stitched up to favour a single bidder.
It has become increasingly clear, through media reporting and otherwise, that WBD appears to have abandoned the semblance and reality of a fair transaction process, thereby abdicating its duties to stockholders, and embarked on a myopic process with a predetermined outcome that favors a single bidder
Whether Warner Bros will give Paramount’s new offer a fair go remains to be seen. Any deal of this size will need the green light from the Department of Justice, thanks to antitrust rules.
Trump Weighs In on the Streaming Power Play
Speculation has swirled that Donald Trump, who’s had dealings with Paramount’s top brass, might step in to block Netflix’s bid for the iconic studio. Arriving at the Kennedy Centre Honours, Trump commented on the possible merger, warning that it “could be a problem” due to Netflix’s dominance in the market.
Still, Trump had a few kind words for Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO, who’d paid him a visit before the bid. He called Sarandos “fantastic” and said he’d be involved in the process.
Well, that’s got to go through a process, and we’ll see what happens. It’s Netflix and great company and they’ve done a phenomenal job.
Whatever happens, it’s a tough pill to swallow for fans, especially after Warner Bros delivered a cracking 2025 with some of the year’s most talked-about releases. Here’s hoping the cinema experience doesn’t get lost in the shuffle if Netflix’s deal goes through.