"Paramount Takes Aim at Warner Bros Discovery with Hostile Bid Worth $74.4bn"
In a surprise move, Paramount has launched a hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery, challenging the $72 billion takeover deal struck by Netflix just days ago. The offer, valued at approximately $30 per share in cash, is worth about $18 billion more than the competing bid from Netflix, which was rejected by Warner Bros Discovery shareholders.
Paramount claims its proposal will create a stronger Hollywood, benefiting consumers and the movie theater industry through enhanced competition, higher content spend, and increased theatrical release output. The company has submitted six proposals to Warner Bros Discovery over 12 weeks, with CEO David Ellison stating that their offer is in the best interests of the creative community.
However, Netflix has warned that Paramount's bid "exposes WBD shareholders to a protracted multi-jurisdictional regulatory clearance process with an uncertain outcome along with a complex and volatile mix of equity and cash." The company also criticized Paramount's proposal for its lack of transparency on cable assets.
The proposed deal is set to expire on January 8, 2026, unless it is extended. Shares of Warner Bros and Paramount have jumped between 5 percent and 6 percent at the opening bell on Monday, while shares of Netflix edged lower.
US President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the deal, stating that it "could be a problem" due to the size of the combined market share. His involvement in the decision-making process has raised eyebrows, particularly given Paramount's ties to his family. The Republican president has expressed concerns about media control and has vowed to be involved in approving or rejecting the deal.
With the deal set to close within 12-18 months, after Warner completes the separation of its cable operations, investors are eagerly awaiting a resolution that will shape the future of the entertainment industry.
In a surprise move, Paramount has launched a hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery, challenging the $72 billion takeover deal struck by Netflix just days ago. The offer, valued at approximately $30 per share in cash, is worth about $18 billion more than the competing bid from Netflix, which was rejected by Warner Bros Discovery shareholders.
Paramount claims its proposal will create a stronger Hollywood, benefiting consumers and the movie theater industry through enhanced competition, higher content spend, and increased theatrical release output. The company has submitted six proposals to Warner Bros Discovery over 12 weeks, with CEO David Ellison stating that their offer is in the best interests of the creative community.
However, Netflix has warned that Paramount's bid "exposes WBD shareholders to a protracted multi-jurisdictional regulatory clearance process with an uncertain outcome along with a complex and volatile mix of equity and cash." The company also criticized Paramount's proposal for its lack of transparency on cable assets.
The proposed deal is set to expire on January 8, 2026, unless it is extended. Shares of Warner Bros and Paramount have jumped between 5 percent and 6 percent at the opening bell on Monday, while shares of Netflix edged lower.
US President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the deal, stating that it "could be a problem" due to the size of the combined market share. His involvement in the decision-making process has raised eyebrows, particularly given Paramount's ties to his family. The Republican president has expressed concerns about media control and has vowed to be involved in approving or rejecting the deal.
With the deal set to close within 12-18 months, after Warner completes the separation of its cable operations, investors are eagerly awaiting a resolution that will shape the future of the entertainment industry.
Paramount just threw down a huge bid for Warner Bros Discovery and I'm low-key excited to see how it all plays out 
. I mean, a stronger Hollywood sounds like a win-win for everyone involved - consumers get more choices, theaters get more movies, and creators can make more content. Plus, David Ellison is super passionate about this deal and I trust his vision 
. But at the same time, Netflix is throwing some shade and warning that there might be some major regulatory hurdles to clear before this deal even happens 
. And let's not forget US President Trump getting involved... interesting times ahead 
. Whatever happens, it's gonna be a wild ride! 
This is getting wild! I mean, who wouldn't want to be the king of Hollywood with a $74.4 billion bid? But for real though, I'm low-key nervous about how this all goes down. I've been watching Game of Thrones and it's clear that power struggles can get pretty intense, especially in the world of entertainment. With Elon Musk owning Twitter (just saying), you'd think he'd know better than to stick his neck out over a deal like this.
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. On one hand, it's awesome to see more competition in the Hollywood scene and all that jazz 
. But at the same time, I'm worried about how this whole thing will play out – like, what if the regulators don't allow it? 
And can we really trust Paramount's intentions? 
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. On one hand, Netflix has been killing it with its original content, and now they're trying to protect their interests 
... as long as they don't end up losing any shows or movies that we love 
. But what about the potential risks? Will it lead to a media monopoly or just create more competition? I don't know, but one thing's for sure - this is gonna be interesting to watch 
. And hey, who knows, maybe Trump will actually make some sense for once 
.
. I mean, what exactly does he care about here? Is it really about media control or is it just a distraction from something else? Either way, the creative community deserves better than some corporate backroom deal 
.