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Paramount Launches $108B Bid for Warner Bros. Amid Netflix Deal

Paramount Launches $108B Hostile Bid for Warner Bros. Amid Netflix Deal

Paramount Launches $108B Bid for Warner Bros. Amid Netflix Deal
Above: Paramount office building in Los Angeles, California. Image credit: Eric Thayer/Getty Images

The Spin

Paramount's all-cash $ 30-per-share offer delivers $17.6 billion more to shareholders than Netflix's inferior stock-and-cash deal, while keeping Warner Bros. Discovery whole rather than splitting it apart. The combination creates real competition against streaming giants and offers a faster regulatory path given Paramount's smaller size and friendly ties to the Trump administration. Netflix's anticompetitive grab of the No. 3 streaming service by the No. 1 player deserves heavy skepticism.

Paramount'sThe hostileNetflix–WBD takeoverdeal attemptinitially exposesseemed desperationpoised afterto losingreshape theHollywood, biddingbut war,Paramount relyingSkydance's on$108.4 controversialbillion Middleall-cash Easternbid sovereignhas wealthturned fundsit whileinto freezinga outfull-blown governancepower rightsstruggle. toParamount dodgeargues regulatorythat scrutiny.its Theoffer Oraclepays heir'smore claimsand aboutfaces superiorfewer valueglobal ignoreregulatory thathurdles, shareholdersbut alsoeither receivedeal acould stakedangerously inconcentrate the linearpower TVof spinoutcreative undermedia Netflix'sand dealdistribution powerhouses. Paramount'sWith lobbyingdeep-pocket aboutinvestors, competitionpolitical ringsallies hollowand whenantitrust thescrutiny realin threatplay, comesthe fromfight allowingreveals ahow smallermoney playerand topolitical absorbinfluence majornow assetssteer withoutwho provencontrols streamingHollywood's scalecontent empire.

Neither Netflix nor Paramount's Skydanceall-cash is$30-per-share likelyoffer todelivers rescue the struggling theatrical business$17.6 Perhapsbillion themore realto issueshareholders pushingthan audiencesNetflix's awayinferior isstock-and-cash $20deal, ticketswhile andkeeping $18Warner popcornBros. —Discovery anwhole experiencerather thatthan feelssplitting tooit costlyapart. forThe many.combination Still,creates whetherreal Netflix'scompetition massiveagainst $82.7streaming billiongiants bidand foroffers Warnera Bros.faster Discoveryregulatory succeedspath orgiven Paramount's ultimatelysmaller prevailssize withand itsfriendly boldties $100to billion hostile offer, the consequencesTrump will be profoundadministration. CEOs,Netflix's dealmakers,anticompetitive unions,grab creativeof talentthe andNo. everyday3 consumersstreaming willservice allby facethe majorNo. changes1 asplayer Hollywooddeserves undergoesheavy a seismic power shiftskepticism.

TheParamount's Netflix–WBDhostile dealtakeover initiallyattempt seemedexposes poiseddesperation toafter reshapelosing Hollywoodthe bidding war, butrelying Paramounton Skydance'scontroversial $108.4Middle billionEastern all-cashsovereign bidwealth hasfunds turnedwhile itfreezing intoout agovernance full-blownrights powerto struggle.dodge Paramountregulatory arguesscrutiny. thatThe itsOracle offerheir's paysclaims moreabout andsuperior facesvalue fewerignore globalthat regulatoryshareholders hurdles,also butreceive eithera dealstake couldin dangerouslythe concentratelinear creativeTV mediaspinout andunder distributionNetflix's powerhouses powerdeal. WithParamount's deep-pocketlobbying investors,about politicalcompetition alliesrings andhollow antitrustwhen scrutinythe inreal play,threat thecomes fightfrom revealsallowing howa moneysmaller andplayer politicalto influenceabsorb nowmajor steerassets whowithout controlsproven Hollywood'sstreaming content empirescale.

Neither Netflix nor Paramount Skydance is likely to rescue the struggling theatrical business. Perhaps the real issue pushing audiences away is $20 tickets and $18 popcorn — an experience that feels too costly for many. Still, whether Netflix's massive $82.7 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery succeeds or Paramount ultimately prevails with its bold $100 billion hostile offer, the consequences will be profound. CEOs, dealmakers, unions, creative talent and everyday consumers will all face major changes as Hollywood undergoes a seismic power shift.

The Netflix–WBD deal initially seemed poised to reshape Hollywood, but Paramount Skydance's $108.4 billion all-cash bid has turned it into a full-blown power struggle. Paramount argues that its offer pays more and faces fewer global regulatory hurdles, but either deal could dangerously concentrate the power of creative media and distribution powerhouses. With deep-pocket investors, political allies and antitrust scrutiny in play, the fight reveals how money and political influence now steer who controls Hollywood's content empire.


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All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0