WBD Acquisition Thread

[JulianRO]

I think they'll approve it

Same, but at the same time I expect the approval process to be slowed down.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/03/17/trump-hegseth-praise-ellisons-approval/

It's visible how the Ellisons and Trump are pressing the accelerator pedal, to finish it quicker.

 

[Moe]

Looks like these recent developments should put the merger on thin ice, especially with a case for Rob Bonta and the blue state AGs regarding the second article.

After ‘Weak’ Live Nation-DOJ Settlement, Senator Amy Klobuchar Introduces Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act

After the DOJ's surprise settlement of its Live Nation antitrust case, Sen. Klobuchar has introduced the Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act.

variety.com

Larry Ellison’s Private Trump Convo Alleged in Jeff Shell Legal Saga

Meanwhile, the Paramount head's adversary R.J. Cipriani tells THR he's meeting with the studio's internal investigator to prove the authenticity of disputed UFC deal texts.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

When government changes after 2028 election, DOJ can reopen the case and sue Live Nation again if state attorney generals didn't block the settlement successfully at first place.

State attorney generals are watching at this news closely.

As for EU regulators, I'm wonder about US-EU relation split from Iran War would affect the EU but I think that most likely would be hold Ellison longer and longer to make M&A more expensive. If there is pair with enough trouble with state attorney generals, M&A could end up as not merged after all.

 

[JulianRO]

Here’s a non-paywalled version of the article for you: https://archive.ph/qVYYi

I think the forum rules don't allow you to do that.

 

[Moe]

I think the forum rules don't allow you to do that.

@PinkieLopBun Hey, need to confirm?

 

[JulianRO]

Seems to be true:

 

[Moe]

Seems to be true:
View attachment 318049

That is for copyrighted shows, books, songs, movies and video games.

Post the alternative link to paywalled link isn't one of them and there are many members share the alternative link.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

That is for copyrighted shows, books, songs, movies and video games.

Post the alternative link to paywalled link isn't one of them and there are many members share the alternative link.

Good to know. I’ll repost it then.
https://archive.ph/qVYYi

Also:

Wall St. Sours on the Ellison Deal: ‘This Should Not Be a Public Company’ - The Ankler

Analysts warn that debt, shaky financing and a Middle East war could derail history’s largest test of legacy media

theankler.com

https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2026-03-18/doj-antitrust-head-says-paramount-warner-bros-deal-review-is-not-political

Second article even says the deal won’t be fast tracked.

 

[TVArchive]

Nickelodeon will change its name to SpongeBob 24/7, and Cartoon Network to Gumball 24/7.

 

[lowell]

As for EU regulators, I'm wonder about US-EU relation split from Iran War would affect the EU but I think that most likely would be hold Ellison longer and longer to make M&A more expensive. If there is pair with enough trouble with state attorney generals, M&A could end up as not merged after all.

Yup, it’s also necessary to point out that if that war does change up the economics of that region unexpectedly, that would certainly impact the wealth funds that are backing the Ellisons’ WarnerDiscovery pursuit, given they’re already re-evaluating their overseas investments here.

It will no doubt have an effect on Oracle’s business in the area but if the AI bubble does pop because of this war and drags Oracle on a painful roller coaster, Skydance’s risky financing is as flimsy as a house of playing cards here.

This is why Zaslav and the WarnerDiscovery board ultimately agreed to the deal since they want to get the $7B breakup fee to help pay down the debt load.

Also, the same reason for Zaslav and other WarnerDiscovery executives have sold part of their stock holdings as soon as possible if they certainly do see uncertainty.

 

[JulianRO]

Exclusive: DOJ antitrust head says Paramount–Warner Bros deal review is not political

Paramount Skydance's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery will "absolutely not" have a fast track to approval because of political factors, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust division told ‌Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

www.reuters.com

We'll see that later.

 

[RandomMe]

Nickelodeon will change its name to SpongeBob 24/7, and Cartoon Network to Gumball 24/7.

While still airing The Loud House and TT GO! on their respective networks, I see

 

[Moe]

Yup, it’s also necessary to point out that if that war does change up the economics of that region unexpectedly, that would certainly impact the wealth funds that are backing the Ellisons’ WarnerDiscovery pursuit, given they’re already re-evaluating their overseas investments here.

It will no doubt have an effect on Oracle’s business in the area but if the AI bubble does pop because of this war and drags Oracle on a painful roller coaster, Skydance’s risky financing is as flimsy as a house of playing cards here.

This is why Zaslav and the WarnerDiscovery board ultimately agreed to the deal since they want to get the $7B breakup fee to help pay down the debt load.

Also, the same reason for Zaslav and other WarnerDiscovery executives have sold part of their stock holdings as soon as possible if they certainly do see uncertainty.

If block the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea aren't enough to hurt the US, so Iran may try to pop the AI bubble as opportunity to destabilize the US economy that hurt a lot of wealthy people who benefited the 47th President.

Not sure about their capacity to do it but super expensive energy price could be one to kill the AI, along with heavy local opposition to AI centers and possibly states to force AI companies like Oracle to pay everything for electricity upgrade instead of ratepayers (customers).

Even if the US able to end the war, there is no way for Strait of Hormuz to reopen and the US would get back in war again that lead to endless war for years.

 

[lowell]

If block the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea aren't enough to hurt the US, so Iran may try to pop the AI bubble as opportunity to destabilize the US economy that hurt a lot of wealthy people who benefited the 47th President.

Not sure about their capacity to do it but super expensive energy price could be one to kill the AI, along with heavy local opposition to AI centers and possibly states to force AI companies like Oracle to pay everything for electricity upgrade instead of ratepayers (customers).

Even if the US able to end the war, there is no way for Strait of Hormuz to reopen and the US would get back in war again that lead to endless war for years.

Yeah, a lot of datacenters are running on fossil fuel so if the war escalates further, the energy prices will also increase dramatically for everyone, not just Oracle and other tech companies.

Whether or not the AI bubble does pop and hurt Oracle, there will absolutely be collateral damage coming internationally for countries who haven’t exactly supplemented themselves on various energy forms yet and continues to be reliant on Middle East oil and natural gas.

 

[Moe]

Yeah, a lot of datacenters are running on fossil fuel so if the war escalates further, the energy prices will also increase dramatically for everyone, not just Oracle and other tech companies.

Whether or not the AI bubble does pop and hurt Oracle, there will absolutely be collateral damage coming internationally for countries who haven’t exactly supplemented themselves on various energy forms yet and continues to be reliant on Middle East oil and natural gas.

Yeah, I would be very happy if Paramount-WBD merger failed but... I would be very worried about our financial stability due to high energy price that could last longer if the US get stuck in endless war trap.

Paramount-WBD merger didn't happened but much of members in here are feeling the pain with wallet.

 

[lowell]

Yeah, I would be very happy if Paramount-WBD merger failed but... I would be very worried about our financial stability due to high energy price that could last longer if the US get stuck in endless war trap.

Paramount-WBD merger didn't happened but much of members in here are feeling the pain with wallet.

True, even as being a major oil and natural gas producer, the U.S. would also clearly stand to benefit way more in the long-term by investing in other forms of energy sources as well.

When one source has a global crisis, you could have other forms of energy to easily switch to instead of having to just be dependent on fossil fuel-based sources by itself.

The more forms of energy being produced and available to utilized, there wouldn’t need to be any fight between tech companies and local communities over datacenter usage but that’s going to happen if both sides are just going to depend on oil and natural gas for their usages.

 

[zakawer2]

Can we just directly go back to the topic of Paramount buying WBD, whether it'll be approved by regulators and shareholders or not, the potential layoffs and debt if it successfully happens, and the possibility of new crossovers if it succeeds?

Also, take a gander at this. It pertains to Netflix, to kids & family content (including the cartoons that this forum is all about), and Paramount's proposed acquisition of WBD.

Paramount-Warner: How Netflix Kids Shows Like 'SpongeBob' Might Be Hit

The Paramount-Warner deal could impact Netflix Kids Shows like 'SpongeBob', 'PAW Patrol' and 'Peppa Pig', a report has said.

deadline.com

 

[themidnightlore]

There won't any crossovers if Paramount does Paramount things™ and closes things.

Still hoping in Sky or someone else to grab the British WBD FTA channels, the Italian WBD FTA and TVN before the Paramount Scrissors™ come there and close things.

 

[zakawer2]

Paramount already closed down enough of its own TV channels beforehand, especially in Brazil and New Zealand. And besides, WBD already did an extensive enough content purge back in 2022 or so in order to deal with its own debt.

What more would you want a combined Warner Bros. Discovery/Paramount, a Skydance Corporation to do?

 

[JulianRO]

What more would you want a combined Warner Bros. Discovery/Paramount, a Skydance Corporation to do?

Way more closures of channels. Combined, they'll have a very big amount of 'em.

 

[themidnightlore]

Paramount already closed down enough of its own TV channels beforehand, especially in Brazil and New Zealand. And besides, WBD already did an extensive enough content purge back in 2022 or so in order to deal with its own debt.



What more would you want a combined Warner Bros. Discovery/Paramount, a Skydance Corporation to do?

Nothing, the merger should fail instead and leave Discovery alone.
(And someone should rescue Super! from Paramount's hands before its time comes to a close.)