Group 1 - Paramount Skydance is preparing a majority cash bid for Warner Bros Discovery, backed by the Ellison family, which has led to a nearly 30% increase in Warner Bros shares and a 7% increase in Paramount shares [1] - The bid aims to acquire the entire Warner Bros Discovery company, including its cable networks and movie studio [1] - Analysts highlight the Ellison family's financial support as crucial for the deal, especially as Paramount faces heavy debt and a challenging streaming market [4] Group 2 - Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison is focused on enhancing the company's film slate and streaming ambitions while restructuring the struggling Paramount+ service [3] - Warner Bros Discovery plans to separate its cable business from its studios and streaming operations in response to declining TV viewership due to the rise of streaming [6] - Warner Bros Discovery's finance chief indicated the possibility of selling a 20% stake in its studio unit before the spinoff, while Paramount Global intends to retain and develop its own cable networks [7]

ToplineParamount Skydance will submit a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a proposal backed by the billionaire Ellison family, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, weeks after a multibillion-dollar merger closed between Skydance Media and Paramount. The proposal includes Warner Bros. Discovery's cable networks and movie studio.NurPhoto via Getty Images ...

Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery shares increased over 30% following reports of a potential takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, which would include the HBO Max catalog rights [1] - Paramount Skydance is financially backed by the Ellison family, who experienced a significant increase in wealth due to a rise in Oracle stock, marking the largest one-day jump in individual net worth recorded by Bloomberg [2] - Warner Bros. Discovery's stock had been relatively flat year-to-date before the surge, with a 60% increase for the year but still down 25% over the past five years [3] Company Developments - Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to split into two companies, focusing on global TV networks and streaming/studios [2] - CEO David Zaslav stated that HBO Max is projected to reach 150 million homes by next year and emphasized that the streaming service is undervalued [3] - Zaslav also mentioned the company's confidence in the quality of its productions, suggesting that this could allow for price increases as they believe they are currently underpriced [4]

Paramount Skydance Reportedly Bidding For Warner Bros. Discovery In Latest Bold Venture After Ellison Takeoverhttps://t.co/QG73I5i8Z8 https://t.co/O0GcoMJaYC ...

Core Viewpoint - The newly merged Paramount Skydance is considering a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, indicating significant changes in the entertainment industry landscape [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - Larry Ellison's family led an $8.4 billion deal that resulted in Skydance Media gaining control of Paramount Global, which closed in August [1]. - The potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is being explored for the entire company, rather than just Warner Bros. Studios [2]. - Reports suggest that the bid for Warner Bros. Discovery would primarily be in cash and supported by the Ellison family [3]. Group 2: Market Reaction - Following the news of the potential bid, shares of Warner Bros. Discovery surged, increasing by more than 30% during afternoon trading [3]. Group 3: Regulatory Considerations - The separation of Warner Bros. and Discovery Global is on track for completion in April, which may facilitate the acquisition process [4]. - The acquisition may not require clearance from the FCC, as Warner Bros. Discovery does not hold broadcast licenses, unlike Paramount Global [4]. - However, the merger could attract scrutiny from the Justice Department due to its potential impact on competition, as it would combine two legacy studios under one ownership [5].

Signage at the Warner Bros. Discovery headquarters in New York, US, on Thursday, June 12, 2025.Warner Bros. Discovery shares soared Thursday afternoon on a report that the recently merged Paramount Skydance was preparing a takeover bid. WBD's stock was up more than 20% on Thursday after The Wall Street Journal reported that Paramount Skydance was preparing a majority cash bid for the company. Representatives for Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment. Warner Bros. Discovery recently announ ...

By Jody Godoy, Anirban Sen, Dawn Chmielewski and Zaheer Kachwala (Reuters) - Paramount Skydance is preparing a bid to buy Warner Bros Discovery, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, potentially bringing together two storied Hollywood studios and reshaping the entertainment industry. A bid for Warner Bros Discovery would be backed by the Ellison family, which includes Skydance head David Ellison and his father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, according to the Wall Stree ...

Paramount Skydance is preparing a majority cash bid for Warner Bros Discovery that is backed by the Ellison family, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. ...

Group 1 - The bid will encompass the entire company, which includes its cable networks and movie studio [1]

Market Performance - All three major U.S. equity benchmarks, including the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones, reached record highs as investors favored risk assets amid expectations of falling interest rates [1][2] - The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to 6,585.53, the Nasdaq 100 increased 0.7% to 24,012.41, and the Dow Jones jumped 1.3% to 46,087.94 [2][7] - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF increased by 0.8% to $604.49, while the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.2% to $461.58 [7] Sector Performance - All 11 S&P sectors experienced gains, with consumer discretionary, materials, and financials leading the way [3] - The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund outperformed, increasing by 1.3%, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund lagged with a 0.1% rise [7] Company Performance - Top gainers in the S&P 500 included Synopsys, Inc. (+11.11%), Centene Corporation (+10.66%), and Micron Technology, Inc. (+9.57%) [8] - Notable losers included Delta Air Lines, Inc. (-4.30%), Oracle Corporation (-3.38%), and Netflix, Inc. (-2.83%) [9]