Free Republic

There were several reasons why streaming giant Netflix pulled out of the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery. You might want to add Susan Rice to the list. The former Obama national security adviser, UN ambassador, partisan Democrat and currently a Netflix board member made a splash last week, and not in a good way. Just as the Trump administration’s Department of Justice was weighing the antitrust merits of the deal, former Obama national security adviser, UN ambassador, partisan Democrat and currently Netflix board member Rice appeared last week on a podcast hosted by Preet Bharara, former US Attorney for...

Paramount/Warner Bros is not a done deal. These two Hollywood titans have not cleared regulatory scrutiny — the California Department of Justice has an open investigation, and we intend to be vigorous in our review.

Paramount Skydance (PSKY) emerged as the likely winner in a m, after streaming giant Netflix (NFLX), on Thursday refused to raise its bid for the storied Hollywood studio. "We've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid," Netflix said in a statement. Netflix confirmed to Reuters that it was walking away from bidding for Warner Bros Discovery. The Warner Bros board still has to terminate the Netflix deal and adopt Paramount Skydance's offer. "Once our board votes...

MAGA-aligned billionaires Larry Ellison and his son David have dramatically won a bidding war for CNN’s parent company—and are now on track to turn it Trumpy. Their Paramount Skydance company suddenly has won its bidding war against Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery after upping its bad and the younger Ellison attending Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. The move comes two days after Paramount Skydance revised its offer for the media conglomerate which also owns HBO, and is Hollywood’s biggest movie make, from $30 per share to $31 per share. Once the deal goes through CNN is widely...

Netflix is declining to raise its offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business, in a stunning move that effectively puts Paramount in a position to take over the fellow storied Hollywood giant. On Thursday, after Warner’s board announced that Skydance-owned Paramount’s offer was superior to the agreement it had previously struck with Netflix, the streaming giant said the new price that would be required to buy Warner would make it a deal that is “no longer financially attractive.” Unlike Netflix’s bid, Paramount wants all of Warner’s operations, including networks like CNN and Discovery. That would put CNN...

The statement came after Warner Bros. Discovery's board of directors described Paramount Skydance's latest offer to acquire the company as "superior" to Netflix's current bid. Netflix said it would not submit a higher offer for Warner Bros. Discovery after the company's board described Paramount Skydance's latest offer as "superior." The stunning twist leaves Paramount Skydance, headed by David Ellison, as the remaining bidder and in position to take control of the storied media giant. Paramount's bid was for the entire company while Netflix was seeking to acquire only its streaming service, HBO cable channel and film studio business.

Paramount Skydance says it would pay a $2.8 billion termination fee Warner would have to pay if it breaks off the deal with Netflix. Lucas Shaw reports. Paramount Sweetens Its Hostile Bid for Warner Bros. | 4:16 Bloomberg Technology | 716K subscribers | 6,349 views | February 10, 2026

Key Points Warner Bros. Discovery said it is open to a sale as it expands its strategic review. The company had planned to split into two separate entities and is not abandoning those plans. WBD said it’s received “unsolicited interest” from multiple parties. =============================================================== Warner Bros. Discovery said Tuesday it’s expanding its strategic review of the business and is open to a sale, sending shares of the company 8% higher in premarket trading. Earlier this year, WBD announced plans to split into two separate entities, a streaming and studios business and a global networks business. It’s also been fielding takeout...

The struggling news network is expected to face massive spending cuts by company chief Gunnar Wiedenfels ... CNN staffers are bracing for impact as the network faces yet another corporate restructuring by its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), fueling an unsettling morale in the newsroom. "I'd say the mood remains really grim," ... WBD announced that it was splitting into two companies, separating the studios and streaming business from its cable networks ... "We knew this was happening," the CNN staffer said. "And it was required to be able to sell the company. People are hoping CNN will be...

It’s the most busted salary in news. CNN is reportedly paying anchor Anderson Cooper $18 million a year — an eye-popping sum that could be in the crosshairs when the ratings-challenged network is spun off by its debt-ridden parent company. Cooper, the face of the network and host of its primetime show at 8 p.m., has an uncertain future following Monday’s stunning announcement by Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav about the looming split, according to the Puck newsletter. Zaslav tapped WBD Chief Financial Officer Gunnar Wiedenfels to start looking for ways to cut costs when he takes over CNN...

CNN+ was pulled from air last month only three weeks after it launched, despite investing $300 million. Fox News defector Chris Wallace, who reportedly makes $9 million annually, joined the doomed streaming news service to pursue a lucrative job and get away from Tucker Carlson. It was unknown what his fate at Warner Bros Discovery would be. While other talent featured on CNN+ remains a mystery, including food industry star Roman, former NPR host Audie Cornish, former NBC hosts Kasie Hunt and Jemele Hill, and sports commentators Rex Chapman and Jemele Hill. The first day of official work for new...