Larry Ellison Backs Paramount Bid for WBD | Bloomberg Tech 12/22/2025

Mergers and Acquisitions in Media and Entertainment - Paramount's Sky Dance amended its bid for Warner Bros Discovery, including a personal financial guarantee from Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison to ensure the $40 billion is available [1][5] - Netflix is also in the running to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, leading to a bidding war [5][49] - The value of cable networks is a key point of contention between potential acquirers like Netflix and Paramount, as Netflix would likely spin them off [8][9][14][16] - Potential regulatory concerns exist regarding who ends up owning CNN [13] - Warner Bros Discovery may make out nicely in the deal, as historically sellers in media deals tend to benefit more than buyers [22] AI and Technology - Chinese chipmakers are rushing to IPOs amid the country's push for technological self-reliance, with potential to rival NVIDIA [1][33][34] - China is investing heavily in domestic chip companies, with Bloomberg reporting up to $70 billion for semiconductors [34] - Google is buying Intersect Power for $4.7 billion in cash plus existing debt to develop clean energy for its data centers [27] - New York has signed a bill into law restricting the most advanced AI, making it the second state to pass AI curbs [1][65] Market Trends and Analysis - The NASDAQ 100 is up 4/10 of a percent, reflecting a spectacular year driven by Big Tech and AI [2] - Big Tech companies are increasingly investing in clean energy to power their data centers [3][28] - AI is rewriting how content is created and monetized, leading to legal ramifications regarding intellectual property [56][59][60] - The pace of innovation in AI is accelerating, with Gemini Three representing a significant step in performance [80]