WBD Demands Higher Bids by Dec. 1 — Saudis In Play?

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Warner Bros. Discovery has asked Paramount Skydance, Comcast, and Netflix to submit new bids by December 1st. There are also indications that Saudi Arabia might still be considering making an offer, despite previous statements to the contrary.

Paramount Skydance Denies Teaming With Saudis — But That Doesn’t Close the Door

Last week, Variety reported that Paramount Skydance was teaming up with investment funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi to make a $71 billion bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

Paramount dismissed the report quickly, but rumors continue to circulate. Several news sources, including ours, have reported that the Ellisons were exploring potential funding from investors in the Middle East during the negotiation process, not as a condition of making their initial offer.

Now that Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) wants better offers by December 1st, the Ellisons might team up with investment funds to increase their bid. This is especially likely if Comcast – who were previously in talks with Saudi investors – offers a price that’s equal to or higher than theirs.

The biggest uncertainty right now is President Trump, who is believed to want Paramount to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Unlike that scenario, if either Comcast or Netflix were to buy WBD, experts predict the deal would be held up for years due to government reviews. Adding to this complex situation, Trump has close ties with Saudi Arabia and recently revealed a $1 trillion partnership with them.

WBD Wants a Better Deal, May Pick a Buyer Soon

According to Variety, Warner Bros. Discovery is aiming for better offers after receiving initial bids last week. If they receive an acceptable price, they could begin exclusive talks with a potential buyer as soon as next month.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav reportedly wants at least $70 billion for the company, and it’s currently unknown if any potential buyers have offered that much.

The current structure of interest includes:

  • Netflix: Only wants WBD’s studio and streaming assets, not the full company.
  • Comcast: Also interested in parts, and was previously reported to be seeking Saudi financial backing.
  • Paramount Skydance: Wants to buy the entire company — and is the only one reportedly interested in CNN.

There’s also a chance Warner Bros. Discovery could abandon the current offers and instead go back to their initial idea of dividing the company into two: Warner Bros., with David Zaslav in charge, and Discovery Global, run by current CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels.

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2025-11-26 02:31