Overview
- Paramount Skydance’s David Ellison met French President Emmanuel Macron, Culture Minister Rachida Dati, CNC chief Gaetan Bruel and other industry leaders in Paris, and held outreach with U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, German officials and the European Commission.
- Exhibitor groups with European exposure, including those tied to AMC, pressed EU regulators to oppose Netflix’s bid, as France’s four-month exclusive theater window makes a 17-day plan unworkable under local rules.
- A Delaware Chancery Court judge rejected Paramount Skydance’s request to expedite its disclosure lawsuit against WBD over the Netflix agreement, and Ellison has threatened a proxy fight targeting the board and a bylaw change on the proposed Discovery Global spinoff.
- The U.S. Department of Justice issued additional information requests related to Paramount’s tender, extending the antitrust review timeline, while both sides continue engagement with EU and U.S. regulators.
- Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said Warner Bros. films would retain 45-day theatrical windows if its deal closes, as WBD’s board maintains support for the Netflix agreement and Paramount’s $30-per-share tender remains set to expire on Jan. 21.