Media acquisition
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Paramount facing competition for Warner Bros. Discovery as Comcast could emerge as suitor
New York Post· 2025-10-09 23:02
The list of suitors for Warner Bros. Discovery is poised to get longer – with possible bidders that include cable-TV giant Comcast, On The Money has learned.As first reported by The Post, Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison is in talks with private equity giants including Apollo Global Management to join a possible bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery – a megadeal that could be worth more than $60 billion.Sources said Ellison is casting for alternative sources of cash amid doubts whether his dad Larry Ellis ...
The Larry and David show: Flush Ellisons set sights on Warner Bros. Discovery
New York Post· 2025-09-11 21:39
Core Insights - Paramount Skydance is reportedly preparing to make a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), driven by the financial backing of Larry Ellison, who has recently seen a significant increase in his net worth [1][5][6] - David Zaslav, CEO of WBD, has been seeking a buyer for the company since the merger of Warner and Discovery, with shares of WBD rising on news of the potential bid [3][10] - The market capitalization of WBD is approximately $38 billion, suggesting that a deal could exceed $40 billion [5] Financial Context - Larry Ellison's net worth surged by $100 billion, bringing it to over $370 billion, positioning him as one of the wealthiest individuals globally [6] - The financial implications of the deal are significant, as David Ellison is expected to spend strategically, balancing the need for investment with the responsibility to public shareholders [12][17] Market Dynamics - Zaslav has been fielding offers for parts of WBD, particularly for CNN, which has faced challenges in ratings [7][10] - There are concerns regarding regulatory approval if WBD were to be acquired by Skydance, especially regarding the ownership of both CBS and CNN [8][10] - The media landscape is challenging, with declining theater attendance and underperformance in streaming revenues [11] Strategic Moves - Skydance is reportedly hiring Bari Weiss for a significant sum, with a compensation structure that includes stock rather than cash, indicating a focus on performance metrics [16][17] - The company is also looking to hire a right-leaning think tank as an ombudsman, reflecting a strategic approach to media bias monitoring [12][16]