WBD rejects Paramount offer again in favor of Netflix deal


An American flag flies at Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, California, on Sept. 12, 2025.

Mario Tama | Getty Images

The Warner Bros. Discovery board on Wednesday once again unanimously recommended that WBD shareholders reject a hostile takeover offer from Paramount Skydance.

The board said it continued to believe the Paramount bid is “inferior” to a previously announced deal with Netflix to buy WBD’s studio and streaming business for $72 billion.

“We have a signed merger agreement with Netflix, it’s a compelling value, a clear path to closing and protections for our shareholders if something stops the close, whatever that might be,” WBD board Chairman Samuel Di Piazza told CNBC’s David Faber on “Squawk Box” on Wednesday morning.

In the days following the announcement of that deal, Paramount launched its hostile bid, taking directly to shareholders an offer of $30 per share, all cash for the entirety of Warner Bros. Discovery, including its TV networks.

WBD’s board made an initial recommendation to reject the offer, and Paramount subsequently made another push for the coveted assets. In late December Paramount guaranteed the backing of billionaire Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, as a clear response to questions raised by WBD’s board.

Di Piazza previously told CNBC that the board had concerns about the backing of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

In an amended offer late last year, Paramount said Larry Ellison had agreed not to revoke the family trust or adversely transfer its assets during a pending transaction. However, Paramount Skydance stopped short of upping the amount of its bid.

“PSKY has repeatedly failed to submit the best proposal for WBD shareholders despite clear direction from WBD on both the deficiencies and potential solutions,” the WBD board said in a letter to shareholders Wednesday.

“The WBD Board, management team and our advisors have extensively engaged with PSKY representatives and provided it with explicit instructions on how to improve each of its offers. Yet PSKY has continued to submit offers that still include many of the deficiencies we previously repeatedly identified to PSKY, none of which are present in the Netflix merger agreement, all while asserting that its offers do not represent its ‘best and final’ proposal,” the board continued.

In a Thursday responseParamount Skydance reiterated its $30-per-share offer, once again arguing it is superior to Netflix’s deal based on the estimated value of the Discovery Global networks business.

“Our offer clearly provides WBD investors greater value and a more certain, expedited path to completion. Throughout this process, we have worked hard for WBD shareholders and remain committed to engaging with them on the merits of our superior bid and advancing our ongoing regulatory review process,” David Ellison said in a statement.

Shareholder pressure

Netflix issued its own statement on Wednesday welcoming the WBD board’s recommendation and noting it has been engaging with the U.S. Department of Justice and European Commission on antitrust concerns surrounding the merger.

“The WBD Board remains fully supportive of and continues to recommend Netflix’s merger agreement, recognizing it as the superior proposal that will deliver the greatest value to its stockholders, as well as consumers, creators and the broader entertainment industry,” Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said in the statement.


Related Posts

Uber, Rivian announce $1.25 billion deal for 50,000 robotaxis

The Rivian R2 is on display during the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Nov. 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Josh Lefkowitz |…

Eli Lilly’s obesity drug retatrutide clears late-stage diabetes trial

Eli Lilly on Thursday said its next-generation obesity drug retatrutide cleared its first late-stage trial on Type 2 diabetes patients, helping them manage their blood sugar levels and lose weight.…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You Missed

7 foreign nationals arrested by NIA | Possibly orchestrated: Ukraine on terror plot charge; India says legal processes being followed | India News

  • By admin
  • March 20, 2026
  • 0 views
7 foreign nationals arrested by NIA | Possibly orchestrated: Ukraine on terror plot charge; India says legal processes being followed | India News

Rajasthan Royals enter crisis mode after Sam Curran’s groin injury, replacement hunt kicks off

  • By admin
  • March 19, 2026
  • 2 views
Rajasthan Royals enter crisis mode after Sam Curran’s groin injury, replacement hunt kicks off

Get to know… Akshay Gupta

  • By admin
  • March 19, 2026
  • 3 views
Get to know… Akshay Gupta

Erling Haaland makes bold move into chess, becomes key investor in Norway Chess and Total Chess World Championship Tour

  • By admin
  • March 19, 2026
  • 3 views
Erling Haaland makes bold move into chess, becomes key investor in Norway Chess and Total Chess World Championship Tour

FedEx Corp stock slips 1% ahead of third quarter earnings

  • By admin
  • March 19, 2026
  • 3 views
FedEx Corp stock slips 1% ahead of third quarter earnings

Uber, Rivian announce $1.25 billion deal for 50,000 robotaxis

  • By admin
  • March 19, 2026
  • 3 views
Uber, Rivian announce $1.25 billion deal for 50,000 robotaxis