Paramount Unveils New Bid for Warner Bros Discovery in Intensifying Battle with Netflix

The takeover battle for Warner Bros Discovery has escalated again as Paramount Skydance launched a fresh offer aimed at blocking Netflix’s attempt to acquire the iconic studio. The new bid, announced on Monday, is being presented directly to shareholders and values Warner Bros at 108.4 billion United States dollars, far higher than Netflix’s winning proposal last week.

Paramount, backed by the billionaire Ellison family, said it is offering shareholders thirty dollars per share to acquire the entire company, including its long established television networks. The company argues that its proposal is a superior alternative to Netflix’s offer because it provides more cash upfront and stands a better chance of earning regulatory approval in the United States and Europe.

Concerns about competition have already become central to the debate. President Donald Trump commented publicly on the Netflix bid, suggesting that such a large scale acquisition could raise problems for regulators given the enormous market influence Netflix already holds. His remarks added political weight to an already complex corporate struggle.

The latest bid marks a new chapter in a saga that began months ago when Paramount first expressed interest in buying Warner Bros. The repeated offers eventually pushed Warner Bros to open a formal bidding process. On Friday, the company declared Netflix the winner, accepting a deal that valued its studios and streaming assets at about eighty three billion dollars including debt. Netflix’s proposed purchase would proceed after Warner Bros spins off several parts of its business, including CNN, into a separate company.

Paramount’s counteroffer significantly exceeds that figure. In an interview with CNBC, Paramount’s David Ellison argued that Netflix’s takeover would concentrate too much power in the hands of a single entertainment giant. He described it as a harmful deal for Hollywood, claiming that actors, creators and smaller production partners would have fewer opportunities if Netflix controlled such a vast share of the industry.

Ellison also revealed that he has had positive discussions with President Trump about the proposal and believes the administration cares deeply about maintaining competition in the entertainment and streaming markets. Wall Street analysts have long viewed Paramount as a strong contender for Warner Bros, in part because of the Ellison family’s relationships with Trump and other influential figures who could potentially smooth the regulatory path.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son in law, is listed as one of the financial partners collaborating with Paramount on the takeover, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The involvement of high profile political and financial backers adds an additional dimension to what is already one of the most significant media acquisition battles in years.

A successful merger between Paramount and Warner Bros would offer both companies greater scale and the potential for substantial cost savings. Paramount has argued that a combined network of traditional television channels would be far more competitive than if Warner Bros proceeds with its plan to separate its networks into an independent entity. Ellison said he believes such a spin off would weaken the networks and ultimately prove disadvantageous for shareholders.

As both sides continue to push their case, analysts expect the takeover battle to intensify further, with regulators in both the United States and Europe closely watching developments.