Overview
- Three days after Warner Bros. Discovery accepted Netflix’s roughly $83 billion offer for studios and HBO Max, Paramount Skydance submitted a richer proposal to buy the whole company.
- Paramount Skydance’s bid is fully in cash and includes WBD’s television channels such as CNN and Discovery, which Netflix’s agreement excluded via a planned spin-off.
- David Ellison said his offer provides greater regulatory certainty and is backed in part by Ellison family resources, following earlier, lower proposals the WBD board declined.
- President Donald Trump voiced doubts about the Netflix deal and said he would be involved in regulators’ decision, while Netflix projects a 12–18 month approval timeline.
- Cinema operators and some lawmakers warn of risks to competition and theaters; Netflix’s Ted Sarandos has pledged to keep Warner Bros’ theatrical releases but shorten the exclusive window.