Paramount vs Netflix for WBD: Pendulum Swings Back As Ellison Looms And Comcast Rumors Pop Up

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The bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) just tilted again.

According to several sources, Warner Bros. Discovery is considering resuming negotiations with Paramount and Skydance. This comes after Paramount submitted a new offer designed to be more appealing than their current agreement with Netflix.

What’s being reported: WBD may reopen talks with Paramount

According to reports from the NY Post, NY Times, Reuters, and Bloomberg, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is once again exploring the possibility of a deal with Paramount and Skydance after receiving a revised offer.

Warner Bros. Discovery stated it will thoroughly examine the offer from Paramount, following the guidelines of its existing deal with Netflix.

The big change is that Warner Bros. Discovery is now paying attention to Paramount, instead of dismissing them. This suggests a potential opportunity for collaboration or competition again.

The revised Paramount terms: breakup fee coverage + a “ticking fee”

Paramount has offered to pay the $2.8 billion fee that would be required to end its deal with Netflix.

Paramount included a quarterly fee of 25 cents per share that will be paid if the merger isn’t completed by December 31, 2026. They present this as a benefit to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders in case regulatory approvals are delayed.

Paramount is trying to make “delay risk” someone else’s problem by literally paying for time.

Why the momentum is shifting toward Paramount

Okay, so from what I’m hearing – and keeping up with the industry news – Paramount seems to be doing better in this whole streaming game because Netflix is getting a lot of scrutiny from politicians and regulators. It’s like all the attention on Netflix is actually helping Paramount. Plus, they’ve tweaked their deal to look better for investors, at least on paper. It’s a bit of a strategic move, honestly.

I’ve been following the buzz, and it seems like the predictions are really shifting. Specifically, everyone’s betting patterns suggest Paramount is quickly becoming a major contender – they’re closing in on the frontrunners, which is pretty interesting to watch!

Even if Warner Bros. Discovery’s board considers restarting negotiations, that would show Paramount’s efforts to influence them are having an effect.

The Trump angle: “last word” talk hits X

Okay, so things are getting interesting over on X. David Tawil just dropped a prediction – and it echoes what I’ve been saying for a while now – that Donald Trump will ultimately have the final say in who buys Warner Bros. Discovery. And according to Tawil, all signs point to Larry Ellison being the likely winner. It’s a developing story, but definitely one to watch if you’re following the media mergers!

Look, a big deal like this doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and it’s no surprise that whoever acquires it will still need to navigate Washington politics. Especially with Netflix being labeled as ‘woke,’ having the right advocates to smooth things over and fend off potential roadblocks is going to be crucial. It’s just the way these things work – a solid deal isn’t enough on its own.

New rumor: Paramount could merge with Comcast (NBCUniversal)

Now for the spicy part.

Industry sources at Status News suggest Comcast’s CEO, Brian Roberts, might try to acquire Paramount, particularly if Warner Bros. Discovery CEO John Ellison’s plans to merge Warner and Discovery fall through.

This is currently just speculation, but it’s the type of discussion that begins when people start considering what would happen if the primary agreement falls through.

It’s noteworthy that Taylor Sheridan is moving from Paramount to Comcast. However, if Paramount and Comcast were to merge, his departure wouldn’t be a significant change.

What this could mean for DC fans: SnyderVerse talk returns

This is where things get interesting for DC fans.

People have been saying that if Paramount acquires the rights, Zack Snyder’s vision for the DC Universe could be revived.

If Netflix succeeds in this deal, sources say Zack Snyder might get the chance to adapt The Dark Knight Returns, and he’s hoping Ben Affleck will reprise his role as Batman.

Okay, so here’s the deal: if Paramount ends up acquiring DC, it seems like Zack Snyder could be making a big return to the DC Universe. I’m honestly pretty excited about that possibility as a fan!

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2026-02-17 03:02