Netflix Mounts Last-Ditch Effort to Save WBD Deal as Paramount Gains Upper Hand

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Netflix is making a final push in Washington, as support seems to be growing for David Ellison and Paramount Skydance in the competition to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, which is valued at $108 billion.

According to Deadline, events are leaning toward Paramount prevailing in its hostile takeover bid.

Eleven Republican state attorneys general have also urged the DOJ to block the Netflix-WBD merger.

Meanwhile, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos is traveling to Washington D.C. for a final attempt to rescue the company’s planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, as regulators raise concerns about potential antitrust issues.

Sarandos Heads to Washington

I’m hearing from The New York Post that Ted Sarandos and his team at Netflix are really going all-out to connect with Washington right now. Apparently, they’ve started a big push to meet with politicians – and there’s even talk they might try to get a meeting with President Trump! It sounds like they’re trying to build some good will with the government.

Ted Sarandos is expected to be at the White House on Thursday, but it’s not yet known if he’ll have a meeting with President Trump. They did meet once before, in November.

Antitrust Concerns Take Center Stage

As a huge movie and TV fan, I’m really hearing a lot about Netflix potentially adding Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service right into their platform. Basically, it sounds like they’re trying to bring together the two biggest players – Netflix and what was formerly HBO Max – and combine everything with Warner Bros.’ movie and TV production studios. It would be a massive change for how we all watch things!

Officials are investigating if the merger would significantly reduce competition in the streaming video market. Those opposed to the deal believe it could limit options for viewers and allow the combined company to raise prices.

Political Headwinds Grow

The deal also faces political resistance.

Some Republican lawmakers worry that Netflix shows tend to be liberal and are therefore reluctant to allow the company to become even more dominant in the market.

Adding to the situation is Susan Rice, a member of Netflix’s board and former national security advisor under President Obama. She recently spoke out against Trump in a podcast, cautioning businesses that support his administration might face consequences if Democrats regain control.

I saw that Trump publicly demanded Ted Sarandos either get Danny Rice off the board or face some kind of repercussions. It was a pretty direct call-out, honestly.

Paramount’s Momentum Builds

As Netflix deals with increasing scrutiny from regulators and politicians, the $31 per share cash offer from Paramount Skydance is looking more promising.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s board believes the new offer could be better for the company than its current deal with Netflix.

As regulators examine the Netflix acquisition and political pressure increases, the next few days will be crucial in deciding if Sarandos can successfully complete the merger, or if David Ellison’s offer will win out instead.

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2026-02-26 02:31