Netflix, Warner Bros., and Paramount logos dramatically presented against a plain background. Key Points Warner Bros. Discovery rose more than 170% in 2025, leading S&P 500 communications stocks. Following the Warner Bros.-Netflix deal, Paramount Skydance is continuing to pursue Warner Bros. However, WBD isn't budging. See what its latest rejection of PSKY's offer means for all three stocks. Interested in Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better. Shares of entertainment gi ...

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance is engaged in a contentious bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), with ongoing frustrations regarding the perceived favoritism towards Netflix in the bidding process [1][4][5]. Group 1: Bidding Dynamics - Paramount Skydance's initial offer of $19 per share was disrupted by WBD CEO David Zaslav, leading to a bidding war that has escalated the sale price significantly [2]. - The current bid from Netflix stands at $27.75 per share, which includes stock that has been underperforming, raising concerns about its viability [13]. - Paramount Skydance is considering litigation as part of their strategy, believing the bidding process was unfairly structured to benefit Netflix [4][5]. Group 2: Financial Backing and Strategy - David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, is financially supported by his father Larry Ellison's substantial fortune of $240 billion, which strengthens their bidding position [3]. - The Ellisons are contemplating increasing their offer and are focused on convincing investors that their proposal is superior to Netflix's [5][12]. - Paramount Skydance argues that their bid is for the entire company, unlike Netflix's partial acquisition, and highlights the lack of regulatory overlap in their proposal [13]. Group 3: Internal Sentiment and Future Outlook - There is significant internal frustration within Paramount Skydance regarding the perceived bias in the bidding process, particularly towards Zaslav's relationship with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos [6][14]. - Zaslav has indicated openness to a higher offer, with figures like "$34 a share" being mentioned, which could lead to further negotiations [9][15]. - The ongoing situation has created a tense atmosphere, with both sides having strong personalities and interests at stake, suggesting that a resolution may require significant concessions [12][15].

news reports just into us. This from the business world on that massive media merger we've been telling you about. This is coming into us in like the last maybe hour with two reports saying Warner Brothers Discovery will tell its shareholders to reject one company's office offer to buy them out and instead to pick Netflix.Remember there was this potential bidding war that was at stake here. Paramount versus Netflix to take over this massive media company. Paramount launched that hostile bid for Warner Broth ...

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance is maintaining its $30-a-share, all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is arguing that its $78 billion offer is superior to WBD's current deal with Netflix [1][6]. Group 1: Bid Details - Paramount Skydance's owners, David and Larry Ellison, along with RedBird Capital, plan to assure shareholders that they will cover the $2.8 billion breakup fee, which equates to about $1 per share, if enough investors support their bid by the January 8 deadline [2]. - Paramount Skydance is confident in its financing, claiming to have secured credit lines from Bank of America and Apollo, with Larry Ellison contributing $12 billion in cash and Gulf State funds providing another $24 billion in equity [7][8]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - There is speculation of a bidding war as WBD is expected to formally urge investors to reject Paramount Skydance's hostile bid, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the financing of Paramount's offer [4][10]. - Notable media investor Mario Gabelli has expressed his intention to support Paramount's all-cash bid over Netflix's deal, which involves stock and complex financing [5][10]. Group 3: Regulatory Considerations - Paramount Skydance argues that its deal presents regulatory certainty compared to Netflix's offer, which may trigger a lengthy antitrust investigation due to the combination of streaming assets [8]. - WBD and Netflix counter that regulatory concerns are overstated, citing the reliance of consumers on social media and YouTube for programming rather than streaming services [10]. Group 4: Financial Backing and Concerns - Larry Ellison's commitment to backstop the deal is under scrutiny, as his wealth is primarily tied to Oracle shares, which have lost significant value since the bidding began [11]. - Critics argue that Ellison's backing is not personal but comes from a revocable trust, although Paramount Skydance defends the trust as a legitimate source of his wealth for deal-making [12].

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance is attempting to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) through a $30-a-share cash bid, which has been rejected in favor of a $27.75-a-share offer from Netflix, leading to a hostile appeal to shareholders by the Ellisons [2][4]. Group 1: Bid Details - The Ellisons' bid for WBD is positioned as superior, claiming that their offer effectively values the company at $30.75 per share when including the sale of cable properties [2]. - The Netflix deal has been criticized by the Ellisons as risky, particularly regarding regulatory concerns and the optimistic valuation of cable assets like CNN, which they believe is worth less than implied [3][7]. Group 2: Financing Concerns - Larry Ellison is reportedly contributing $12 billion to the bid, which is less than 5% of his net worth of $243 billion, raising questions about the financial backing of the proposal [4][5]. - In contrast, Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds have pledged double that amount, which has sparked concerns about foreign influence over U.S. media assets [5][12]. Group 3: Shareholder Engagement - The Ellisons are directly appealing to WBD shareholders, arguing that their offer was not given a fair hearing by the WBD board and that the spun-out cable assets are overvalued [7][11]. - Notable investors, including media investor Mario Gabelli, have pledged their shares to the Ellisons, indicating support for the cash component of the bid despite the source of funding [12][13]. Group 4: Market Reaction - Since the beginning of the bidding war, shares of WBD have increased by 150%, reflecting investor interest despite the ongoing conflict between the bidding parties [17].

Group 1 - Media investor Mario Gabelli is considering supporting Paramount's hostile bid against Netflix's initial offer [1]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount's CEO David Ellison believes that Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) cannot accept his offer of $30 per share without admitting a breach of fiduciary duty [1] Group 1: Paramount's Offer and Strategy - WBD accepted Netflix's offer of $27.75 per share for its studio and streaming assets before Paramount launched a hostile bid for the entire company [2] - Ellison stated that Paramount's offer was the same as the one previously delivered privately to WBD, emphasizing that no changes were made [2] - Ellison indicated that WBD's board would face challenges in accepting the offer, as it would contradict their previous stance that the offer was insufficient [3] Group 2: Future Negotiations and Market Dynamics - Ellison may need to enhance the offer to secure a deal, despite believing that Paramount's current bid is superior to Netflix's [3] - There are indications that Ellison is open to adjusting the price, as he communicated to WBD's CEO that the bid was not labeled as "best and final" [4] - Industry insiders, including former Disney dealmaker Kevin Mayer, anticipate that the bidding war will continue, suggesting a potential for a "sweetened" offer from either Paramount or Netflix [5]

Core Points - Warner Bros. Discovery shares increased by as much as 8% on Monday and are up 163% in 2025, driven by investor enthusiasm over a hostile bid from Paramount Skydance to acquire the company after Netflix's $72 billion deal announcement [1][6] - Paramount Skydance made an all-cash offer of $30 per share for Warner Bros. Discovery, surpassing Netflix's offer of $27.75 per share, providing shareholders with $18 billion more in cash compared to the Netflix deal [2][6] - Paramount submitted around six proposals over a 12-week period, claiming that Warner Bros. Discovery "never engaged meaningfully" with these offers, indicating a potential for a bidding war [3][6] - The involvement of President Donald Trump in the Netflix-Warner Bros. Discovery deal adds another layer of complexity, as he suggested he might get involved after consulting economists [4] - Warner Bros. Discovery stock has experienced significant volatility, trading like a meme stock amid frequent M&A rumors, with Netflix and Warner Bros. agreeing on breakup fees of $5.8 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively, if the deal does not proceed [5]

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing bidding war for Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) highlights the differing valuations and strategic interests of potential acquirers, particularly Paramount and Netflix, with implications for the overall media industry [2][5][10]. Company Analysis - Paramount's bid for WBD is perceived as superior if global networks are considered to have less value, raising questions about the true upside potential of WBD's assets [2][3]. - WBD's valuation had previously been underestimated, but the unsolicited bid has unlocked its true value, indicating a shift in investor perception [4][5]. - The bidding war is expected to influence how shareholders respond, with potential implications for Netflix's stock performance if it withdraws from the bidding [6][7]. Industry Dynamics - The current environment suggests that combining assets could create greater strategic value, as indicated by the potential for consolidation within the industry [9][10]. - There is speculation about other assets, such as NBC Universal, that could be of interest to companies seeking to enhance their streaming strategies [10][11]. - The competitive landscape is shifting, with companies needing to adapt to the growing dominance of direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming services from larger digital players [11].

Core Insights - Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison is actively pursuing a competitive strategy against Warner Bros. Discovery by making a counter offer that exceeds Netflix's proposal by $18 billion [1] Company Strategy - The counter offer from Paramount Skydance is significantly higher than the initial offer from Netflix, indicating a strong commitment to securing a favorable deal in the competitive landscape of media and entertainment [1]