Paramount Wins $111 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery Buyout at $31 Per Share
Warner Brothers Discovery’s board approved Paramount Skydance’s $31 per share takeover bid valuing the company at $111 billion, ending Netflix’s pursuit of the studio. The deal faces a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on March 4, with critics warning of over-leverage risk and potential creative stagnation under David Ellison’s stewardship.
1. Board Approves Paramount Offer
After Netflix declined to match a revised bid, Warner Brothers Discovery’s board unanimously designated Paramount Skydance’s $31 per share offer as superior, effectively ending competing bids and greenlighting the takeover.
2. Takeover Valuation and Terms
The offer values the combined entity at approximately $111 billion and transfers control of studios and networks such as HBO, CNN and CBS to David Ellison’s Skydance.
3. Critic Warns of Creative and Financial Risks
Prominent industry voices caution that the acquisition may prioritize cost synergies over creative investment, warning of over-leverage on debt and potential stagnation in film and television output.
4. Regulatory Review and Next Steps
The deal is scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on March 4, initiating a regulatory review that could influence the final approval and timing of the transaction.