Zhong Guo Jing Ying Bao·2025-12-10 12:06Core Viewpoint - The acquisition battle for Warner Bros. Discovery's assets has intensified, with Paramount Sky Dance making a cash offer of $30 per share, totaling up to $108.4 billion, following Netflix's announcement of a lower bid of $27.75 per share, approximately $82.7 billion [1][3]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - Paramount Sky Dance's cash offer includes all of Warner Bros. Discovery's businesses, alleviating the need for the latter to manage its declining cable television assets [1][3]. - The high acquisition price reflects the costs associated with handling Warner Bros. Discovery's cable business, which is considered a liability [3]. - Warner Bros. Discovery's annual revenue has remained between $30 billion and $40 billion since its listing in 2022, but it has been consistently operating at a loss [3]. Group 2: Industry Dynamics - The streaming industry is viewed as a key growth area, with Warner Bros. Discovery's extensive IP library offering significant commercial value for future content production and distribution [2]. - The traditional cable television business is in decline, posing challenges for both Warner Bros. Discovery and any potential acquirer [2]. - Paramount Sky Dance's CEO has positioned the company as a protector of traditional cinema, appealing to Hollywood unions and creators who fear job losses and reduced content diversity due to Netflix's acquisition [5][6]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Paramount Sky Dance is leveraging anti-competitive arguments against Netflix's acquisition, suggesting that it would create a dominant player with 400 million subscribers, while a merger with Warner Bros. Discovery would yield a more competitive 200 million subscribers [6]. - The involvement of high-profile figures, including former President Trump, has added a political dimension to the acquisition discussions, with calls for Warner Bros. Discovery to sell to the highest bidder [6][7]. Group 4: Company Background - Paramount Sky Dance, founded by David Ellison in 2010, gained recognition for its investment acumen and production capabilities, producing successful films in collaboration with Paramount [7]. - David Ellison is the son of Oracle's founder, Larry Ellison, indicating a strong connection to the tech industry, which may influence the future direction of the combined entities [7][8]. - If Paramount Sky Dance successfully acquires Warner Bros. Discovery, it could enhance the technological capabilities of its streaming services through Oracle's cloud infrastructure [8].