Paramount Said To Be Winning WBD Bid — Thanks To Trump

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I’m really following the Warner Bros. Discovery deal closely, and it sounds like things are heating up! From what I’m reading in the New York Post, Paramount Skydance is currently the frontrunner to acquire it. It’s a really exciting time, and I’m hoping for a great outcome for everyone involved.

Apparently, the reason they’re leading the bid isn’t about offering the highest price—it’s because they’re the only ones interested in buying the entire Warner Bros. Discovery company, including CNN.

Trump the Wild Card

Both Comcast and Netflix expressed interest in a potential acquisition, but reports suggest Netflix wasn’t truly committed to the deal. Comcast, meanwhile, appears to be interested in only certain aspects of the company, not a full takeover.

Okay, so here’s the buzz: Paramount, led by David Ellison and with serious backing from his dad, is doubling down on everything, and that apparently includes holding onto CNN. The New York Post is reporting that Donald Trump is actually happy about this, because he wants CNN to stop being so critical of him and his supporters. And, just like I was hearing, Variety is confirming that Paramount is leaning heavily into a more conservative direction – basically, going ‘MAGA’ with its strategy.

Trump believes his political ally, Keith Ellison, is the right choice to change CNN’s current approach to news coverage. Having already brought Bari Weiss on board at CBS News to reduce perceived left-wing bias, reports suggest Weiss could potentially lead CNN if the Ellisons acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).

Regulatory Advantage Gives Paramount an Edge

Getting approval from regulators is often the biggest uncertainty in media company mergers, and the proposed deal between Paramount and Skydance might actually succeed because of this.

Comcast is getting criticism for its ownership of MSNBC, and Netflix is dealing with concerns about potentially unfair competition as the leading streaming service. Now, with Donald Trump’s Justice Department potentially in charge, both companies could face increased scrutiny and legal challenges.

According to sources, if the Ellisons’ deal goes through, they’ll receive quick and preferential approval – potentially within six months. However, Comcast and Netflix are facing lengthy legal fights and strong political resistance that could take years to resolve.

Paramount’s Lower Bid Might Be Enough

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has indicated he’s looking for an acquisition offer of at least $30 per share, valuing the company around $70 billion.

Paramount Global is currently being offered $27 per share by Skydance Media. However, the company’s board might prefer a quicker deal and avoid a potentially two-year wait for approval from regulators if Comcast or Netflix were to make a competing offer.

Now that the bidding deadline has passed and initial offers are on the table, Paramount Skydance appears to be leading the race to strike a deal that could significantly change the landscape of Hollywood.

What about the Saudis?

Despite Paramount’s denials of Saudi financial support, many reports indicate they might involve Saudi investors during deal negotiations, rather than securing funding upfront – a point I’ve also made.

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2025-11-23 22:02