Warner Bros. Board of Directors Rejects Paramount Takeover Bid

It appears that Warner Bros. Discovery is once again likely to be acquired by , after the company’s board rejected a takeover attempt by David Ellison of Paramount Skydance. Reports last week indicated Ellison tried to block Netflix with a deal valued at $108.4 billion, but Warner Bros. Discovery’s board doesn’t believe Paramount’s offer meets their expectations.

Paramount made a strong offer of $30 per share, promising a faster and simpler deal than Netflix, and guaranteed continued movie theater releases – a key issue with Netflix’s offer. However, Warner Bros. Discovery’s board has officially turned down Paramount’s bid, stating it carries substantial risks and costs. In a letter to shareholders (reported by the LA Times), WBD claims Paramount has repeatedly misrepresented the support of the Ellison family for the deal, falsely suggesting they had guaranteed funding.

Ted Sarandos claims Netflix’s plan is beneficial for its investors, framing it as a win for the company. He stated:

Warner Bros. Discovery’s board confirmed that the deal with Netflix is the best option for shareholders. After a competitive process, this agreement will benefit viewers, content creators, investors, and the entertainment industry as a whole. Netflix and Warner Bros. are a great fit, and we’re thrilled to combine our strengths, especially with Warner Bros.’ strong film and television studios, and the renowned HBO brand, which will remain focused on high-quality TV. We also plan to continue releasing Warner Bros. movies in theaters, giving audiences the traditional cinematic experience.

As a film and TV fan, I was really interested to hear Netflix’s Greg Peters talk about the Warner Bros. acquisition. He basically said it’s all about giving us, the viewers, more options and better entertainment. He believes it’s a win for everyone – audiences get more shows and movies to choose from, creators have more opportunities, and it’ll ultimately help Netflix grow and deliver even more great content, both at home and in cinemas. He’s clearly excited about what this means for the future of entertainment, and honestly, so am I!

Paramount’s Bid Has Too Many Risks


Paramount

According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr., chairman of Warner Bros. Discovery’s board, explained the reasons why a deal with Paramount didn’t move forward.

After thoroughly reviewing Paramount’s latest offer, our Board determined it doesn’t offer enough value to our shareholders and carries considerable risks. This offer continues to ignore important issues we’ve repeatedly raised with Paramount over the past several proposals. We remain convinced that merging with Netflix will provide greater and more reliable value for our shareholders, and we’re excited about the advantages this combination will bring.

Though it appears the deal should be finished, Ellison isn’t giving up. He says Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders have told him they see the value in his offer – the same one Paramount previously proposed. Experts predict shareholders will likely reject the offer, but many think Ellison will simply respond by raising it. This whole situation could easily become a major issue, and Netflix is likely to be the one to capitalize on the drama.

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2025-12-17 23:02