WBD Acquisition Thread

[JulianRO]

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/25/netflix-sarandos-white-house-warner-00798285

Netflix should move quickly, it has only 4 business days to either quit or counterbid.

 

[harry580]

if we talking about paramount skydance wanted to buy assets, I rather have them go after hbo max & maybe buy the blue sky studios library & ip if disney willing to dump those

edit: I sick and tired of this war, I just want netflix to buy Warner bros studios and have hbo max go to paramount, I just want Warner bros to not have the same disney/fox crisis

 

[Moe]

Netflix know to do - 4 days is only start if WBD accept Paramount's bid, so time start to ticking. Right now, WBD hasn't accept yet.

Also, Netflix can outbid Paramount before WBD accept Paramount's bid, so it freezes because of Netflix-WBD's M&A agreement and Paramount's hostile takeover.

Shareholder vote on March 20 is way to know if they approve Netflix's bid, so it is 3 weeks worth of drama right now.

if we talking about paramount skydance wanted to buy assets, I rather have them go after hbo max & maybe buy the blue sky studios library & ip if disney willing to dump those

edit: I sick and tired of this war, I just want netflix to buy Warner bros studios and have hbo max go to paramount, I just want Warner bros to not have the same disney/fox crisis

Ellison don't want linear networks nor HBO Max without WB studio and their IP.

The closure of Blue Sky Studios was predictable when M&A was first announced in 2017, also Disney restructured their companies in 2018 to make closure of Blue Sky Studios very likely as Disney planned to absorb into 20th Century.

This thread is full of mess when members posted trivial news coverage to fuel the Netflix-Paramount drama, so it caused some members to be anxious. Also, Paramount has seen as politically fueled M&A that make situation much worse and more chaotic, so it wasn't present when Disney-Comcast fight arose in 2018.

 

[harry580]

Netflix know to do - 4 days is only start if WBD accept Paramount's bid, so time start to ticking. Right now, WBD hasn't accept yet.

Also, Netflix can outbid Paramount before WBD accept Paramount's bid, so it freezes because of Netflix-WBD's M&A agreement and Paramount's hostile takeover.

Shareholder vote on March 20 is way to know if they approve Netflix's bid, so it is 3 weeks worth of drama right now.


Ellison don't want linear networks nor HBO Max without WB studio and their IP.

when why did he wanted wb studio and their ip, to make a new South Park or Friday the 13th movies?

The closure of Blue Sky Studios was predictable when M&A was first announced in 2017, also Disney restructured their companies in 2018 to make closure of Blue Sky Studios very likely as Disney planned to absorb into 20th Century.

but they have other options for the studio like splitting blue sky studios like turner did with mgm

This thread is full of mess when members posted trivial news coverage to fuel the Netflix-Paramount drama, so it caused some members to be anxious. Also, Paramount has seen as politically fueled M&A that make situation much worse and more chaotic, so it wasn't present when Disney-Comcast fight arose in 2018.

the difference is that disney & Comcast are not political, the murdochs are

 

[JulianRO]

the murdochs are

And the Ellisons for sure.

 

[harry580]

And the Ellisons for sure.

but at least Murdochs are willing to sell 20th century, Ellisons are not the same

 

[John Pannozzi]

yeah, at this point, I love to see David elison gets exposed like John mctiernan

May I ask, how was John McTiernan exposed?

 

[Moe]

when why did he wanted wb studio and their ip, to make a new South Park or Friday the 13th movies?

Ellison don't want to be repeat of Shari Redstone by own Paramount alone and they want WBD to dilute the Paramount shareholders who tried to sue Ellison over issues with M&A last year. If he take linear network only or HBO Max only, it would be laughingstock to him. Other reason is obviously political agenda that is driven by his dad.

but they have other options for the studio like splitting blue sky studios like turner did with mgm

Fox had an option to do it but Disney wanted Blue Sky Studios to be included, so it ended up got included.

M&A isn't straightforward to understand and it is very complex business.

the difference is that disney & Comcast are not political, the murdochs are

Sell 20th Century wasn't political and Fox News is just totally separated.

The streaming is real reason for Disney-20th Century, so Paramount is just political.

 

[harry580]

Ellison don't want to be repeat of Shari Redstone by own Paramount alone and they want WBD to dilute the Paramount shareholders who tried to sue Ellison over issues with M&A last year. If he take linear network only or HBO Max only, it would be laughingstock to him. Other reason is obviously political agenda that is driven by his dad.

so, why can't Ellison buy lionsgate or maybe a stake in legendary entertainment instead

Fox had an option to do it but Disney wanted Blue Sky Studios to be included, so it ended up got included.

M&A isn't straightforward to understand and it is very complex business.

and now blue sky studios got lost to a monopoly, and all of those ips got wasted

Sell 20th Century wasn't political and Fox News is just totally separated.

you just used the separating the art from the artist excuse, of course 20th century & fox mews were owned by news corp/21st century fox/murdochs

 

[Moe]

so, why can't Ellison buy lionsgate or maybe a stake in legendary entertainment instead

because both aren't attractive to Ellison who is power hungry for major studio, also his dad wanted WBD to exert their influence on CNN that Trump failed to accomplish with AT&T.

As for reason, many people see Paramount as very political driven since Netflix is for expand the streaming market with more contents, so Netflix avoid the politics as much as possible and it is for business decision to attract the viewers.

and now blue sky studios got lost to a monopoly, and all of those ips got wasted

Blame on DOJ for not scrutinize the Blue Sky Studios or more nuanced, antitrust experts and lawyers with DOJ didn't see as sufficient to cause the antitrust concern.

Even Blue Sky Studios could get sold to other company and they no longer use it, beside existing catalogs. After all, M&A is full of unpredictable and you don't have control about where Blue Sky Studios would goes, so that how Filmation got vanished.

The Covid got Disney that threw entire of plan out and finally, they are working on Ice Age sequel after brutal years due to Covid. They are going to diversifying the animation to not depends on Disney alone, so they need Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century to expand the ideas.

you just used the separating the art from the artist excuse, of course 20th century & fox mews were owned by news corp/21st century fox/murdochs

I don't understand about you said. I'm saying that Murdoch treated 20th Century and Fox News like totally separate equity, so 20th Century has very liberal policies that aren't present in Fox News.

but sometime, Fox interfered with studio affairs for make movies, so that how they flopped Fantastic Four (2015) but it wasn't related to political agenda.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

I’m worried the

Netflix know to do - 4 days is only start if WBD accept Paramount's bid, so time start to ticking. Right now, WBD hasn't accept yet.

Also, Netflix can outbid Paramount before WBD accept Paramount's bid, so it freezes because of Netflix-WBD's M&A agreement and Paramount's hostile takeover.

Shareholder vote on March 20 is way to know if they approve Netflix's bid, so it is 3 weeks worth of drama right now.

I’m worried the WBD shareholders will vote for Paramount instead of Netflix, just because of the former’s recently revised bid. All the articles recently are saying that the WBD board is taking a liking to the revised offer. Proof that some hostile bids succeed.

 

[Moe]

I’m worried the

I’m worried the WBD shareholders will vote for Paramount instead of Netflix, just because of the former’s recently revised bid. All the articles recently are saying that the WBD board is taking a liking to the revised offer. Proof that some hostile bids succeed.

It is not over until Netflix officially walk away, so it would be very major news and I'm not worried right now.

Let remember about what Lowell said - it is full of unpredictable and M&A is just like that when few corporations battle to win the bid.

Don't forget about emails that sent by Netflix to subscribers about buying WBD and it means Netflix is adhere the serious commitment with WBD. Netflix is going to ensure that they could get WBD shareholders to approve the acquisition, so it means Netflix is going to raise the bid that is seen as best deal to WBD shareholders - it takes some time with Paramount's hostile takeover and Netflix don't want to end up in Ellison's trap.

Lastly, hostile takeover means nothing and Paramount is not automatic winner, so it is just raise the difficult on WBD and Netflix, so both have to overcome to pull Paramount out.

That takes much time.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

It is not over until Netflix officially walk away, so it would be very major news and I'm not worried right now.

Let remember about what Lowell said - it is full of unpredictable and M&A is just like that when few corporations battle to win the bid.

Don't forget about emails that sent by Netflix to subscribers about buying WBD and it means Netflix is adhere the serious commitment with WBD. Netflix is going to ensure that they could get WBD shareholders to approve the acquisition, so it means Netflix is going to raise the bid that is seen as best deal to WBD shareholders - it takes some time with Paramount's hostile takeover and Netflix don't want to end up in Ellison's trap.

Lastly, hostile takeover means nothing and Paramount is not automatic winner, so it is just raise the difficult on WBD and Netflix, so both have to overcome to pull Paramount out.

That takes much time.

My fear is that Netflix will just give up and walk away over pressure from the DOJ and Ellison and WBD favoring Ellison.

 

[Moe]

My fear is that Netflix will just give up and walk away over pressure from the DOJ and Ellison and WBD favoring Ellison.

Do Netflix walk away from WBD now? The answer is no and there is nothing to worry right now.

Netflix has options to win the game as long as WBD shareholders are compensated for extra time when Netflix has to battle with DOJ in the court if necessary, even Section 2 under Sherman Act is near impossible for DOJ to win and Section 7 under Clayton Act is very demanding to make harder for DOJ to win, especially if block the M&A is driven by political like they did with AT&T. The federal courts, including US Supreme Court often side with corporations over federal governments as long as corporations are sticking with their side to fight instead of end the M&A or seek for settlement.

There is scenario if Netflix walks away, WBD could still reject Paramount's hostile takeover and WBD can win the game by influence on shareholders that Paramount is bad deal, so if shareholders block the Paramount, so it will be extremely difficult for Ellison to continue the fight. WBD has option to implement the poison pill if Ellison trying to buy more share.

It is unthinkable to see WBD to be taken by smaller corporation - Paramount, so that make no sense.

For now, you have to wait for Netflix to respond and it take a long time to settle, so Lowell said that he don't know about who would win the game, so neither is me, but I believe that Netflix is favored to WBD and there is a catch, Netflix has to outbid Paramount with enough compensation for extra time if legal issue arose and increase the breakup fee significantly do help a lot, so must be much more than Paramount.

Paramount has limitation and they will be in debt spiral if they take WBD, so outcome could be much worse than AOL and AT&T.

 

[Insidus]

omg, Paramount skydance, please give up, I have enough, we don't need another disney/fox disaster (the one that took away blue sky studios and have a monopoly), if you want something from them, please take hbo max instead

Tbf Blue Sky Studios closure was due to the pandemic

 

[lowell]

I recommend everyone stay away from /rMediaMergers.

It's not like there isn't people that go back and forth between here and there, lol. We've been made aware of that for a while.

I have to agreed with grphx, r/mediamergers fell off when they become fear mongering and break all laws of gravity

I've been invited to join them but passed every time because that entire subreddit speaks for itself.

This thread is full of mess when members posted trivial news coverage to fuel the Netflix-Paramount drama, so it caused some members to be anxious. Also, Paramount has seen as politically fueled M&A that make situation much worse and more chaotic, so it wasn't present when Disney-Comcast fight arose in 2018.

Yeah, sometimes, feels like it's trying to turn into r/MM 2.0. and that's why I just don't comment on anything at all.

It is not over until Netflix officially walk away, so it would be very major news and I'm not worried right now.

Let remember about what Lowell said - it is full of unpredictable and M&A is just like that when few corporations battle to win the bid.

Lastly, hostile takeover means nothing and Paramount is not automatic winner, so it is just raise the difficult on WBD and Netflix, so both have to overcome to pull Paramount out.

That takes much time.

Same as above, but there's definitely some occurrence of jumping to conclusions based on only the headlines without reading the articles themselves to get a full understanding, kind of like running in a circle and repeat.

 

[GRPHX]

Netflix know to do - 4 days is only start if WBD accept Paramount's bid, so time start to ticking. Right now, WBD hasn't accept yet.

Also, Netflix can outbid Paramount before WBD accept Paramount's bid, so it freezes because of Netflix-WBD's M&A agreement and Paramount's hostile takeover.

Shareholder vote on March 20 is way to know if they approve Netflix's bid, so it is 3 weeks worth of drama right now.

Just imagine the speculation, manipulation, and misinformation that might emerge leading up to March 20th.

 

[Moe]

Tbf Blue Sky Studios closure was due to the pandemic

The pandemic is just make closure sooner.

But as for real reason, Blue Sky Studios closed permanently as consequence from M&A, so it was fairly predictable.

Just imagine the speculation, manipulation, and misinformation that might emerge leading up to March 20th.

Yeah, it is going to be crazy and I will ignore the misinformation posts.

 

[JulianRO]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-02-26/warner-bros-says-paramount-s-new-offer-may-top-netflix-video

Until Netflix comes with a counterbid or something, I'm not gonna believe these sensational named articles making me think that Paramount is the winner.

 

[JulianRO]

Even though Gasparino is pro-Paramount he still gives some good info sometimes.