Discussion

• NewsMax.com Michael Katz on x

  Netflix Drops Bid for Warner, Paving Way for Paramount

• @lucas_shaw Lucas Shaw on x

  Netflix is understandably upset that it missed out on buying Warner Bros. Its shareholders... are thrilled.

• @chrislhayes Chris Hayes on x

  The announcement coming after meeting with the regulators and WH who could approve or deny the deal seems pretty relevant!

• @yashar Yashar Ali on x

  Hard to imagine Ellison facing any resistance from the White House given his family's close relationship with President Trump. And he will certainly be ok in the Senate — he was Lindsey Graham's guest to the State of the Union. [image]

• @nhegde Nidhi Hegde on x

  We said this when these bids were first made. Both are illegal and should be blocked. If the Trump DOJ waives it through, Democrats must look to reverse it.

• @pkafka Peter Kafka on x

  Netflix execs used to tell me they were delighted when competitors merged, because integrations etc kept them stuck in place for years.

• @jbillinson Josh Billinson on x

  Nathan Fielder is somewhere right now months into an elaborate scheme and realizing these guys are his bosses again

• @kasey__moore Kasey Moore on x

  Mixed feelings: I think WB would've been a destabilizing force for Netflix unless it remained truly independent, apart from the streaming side, long term.  I genuinely believe Netflix would've been a force for good for the theatrical industry.  With Paramount, though... incoming …

• @danprimack Dan Primack on x

  Netflix and concede

• @trungtphan Trung Phan on x

  when you watch the new HBO Film, produced with Warner Bros, a Paramount company, which is a Skydance corporation, in partnership with South Park Digital Studios (a Comedy Central subsidiary) financed by Oracle stock, surging on OpenAI data centre orders, with funding from Nvidia …

• @tsoh_investing Alex Morris on x

  Kudos to management for being willing to walk away. There will be plenty of opportunities over time to keep improving the customer value proposition and the long-term value of the business. This was the right decision by Netflix.

• @amitisinvesting Amit on x

  ...Congrats to Netflix Shareholders.  $3B in 3 weeks for doing nothing.  $NFLX +9%

• @superwuster Tim Wu on x

  Feel like the some of the reporting on Paramount-Warner Bros has kinda forgotten this little thing called federal and state antitrust review

• @ggreenwald Glenn Greenwald on x

  The Ellison family — led by history's single largest donor to the Friends of the IDF, Larry Ellison — has responded to the collapse of support for Israel by gobbling up and controlling key media: CBS, Paramount, TikTok. Now they beat Netflix to buy Warner Bros, CNN, etc.

• @danpfeiffer Dan Pfeiffer on x

  Bari Weiss gets CNN

• @davidpoland David Poland on x

  At the very best, if Paramount does take over WBD, it sets back the filmed entertainment industry 5 years. At the very worst, Paramount Sky Bros is sold off for parts before 2030 as movie theater counts drop to under 20,000 and all the paranoid fantasies about this industries

• @zck Zak Kukoff on x

  WOW - Netflix backing out of buying Warners - Paramount outbidding Netflix - regulatory uncertainty around Netflix approval The era of the deal guy continues. Ellison family climbing the deal guy rankings [image]

• @katiemiller Katie Miller on x

  Restoring entertainment to a shared common culture devoid of overt liberalism will make our country a better place. Our children deserve programming without a forced trans agenda. A win for consumers. A win for Americans. A win for our children.

• @jason @jason on x

  Netflix driving the price up and walking away — what a strategy! [image]

• @brianstelter Brian Stelter on x

  David Zaslav statement just now: “We are excited about the potential of a combined Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery and can't wait to get started working together telling the stories that move the world.” [video]

• @brianstelter Brian Stelter on x

  Bulletin: Netflix says it has “declined to raise its offer for Warner Bros.”

• @sherman4949 Alex Sherman on x

  WBD out with statements — Paramount, we always loved you!  “Netflix is a great company and throughout this process Ted, Greg, Spence and everyone there have been extraordinary partners to us.  We wish them well in the future,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. …

• @mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x

  Per last week, this was always the endgame. But unclear what Netflix will do now. They should probably walk at this point - there's too much negativity and nonsense. Take the $3B and be rid of the headache. But... they already talked themselves into it... https://spyglass.org/...…

• @cgasparino Charles Gasparino on x

  Yeah right and Sarandos didn't want to meet w Trump who said no

• @mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x

  ...and they walked! Good for Netflix, acting so quick and decisively. Good short term for Paramount, though they drastically overpaid, of course. Undoubtedly bad for Hollywood, though that will obviously only be obvious to them in hindsight... https://www.cnbc.com/...

• @senwarren Elizabeth Warren on x

  What did Trump officials tell the Netflix CEO today at the White House? Looks like crony capitalism with the President corrupting the merger process in favor of the billionaire Ellison family.

• @bedoyausa Alvaro Bedoya on x

  One family is about to control CBS, CNN, HBO, and TikTok. They'll buy WBD with $24 billion in money from the Saudis, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. To win over Trump, they canceled Colbert, blocked a CECOT investigation, and blocked Talarico. Much more will follow. Block this rotten deal.…

• @adamjohnsonchi Adam Johnson on x

  Ellisons' now have WBD. Get ready for the Weiss-ification of CNN. Bad things can get worse, the overarching theme of 2025 and 2026

• @sherman4949 Alex Sherman on x

  Netflix accomplished its initial goal: make whoever buys WBD pay up for it.

• @sherman4949 Alex Sherman on x

  Now Netflix can wait and see if regulators block Para-WBD! How the turn tables.

• @sarafischer Sara Fischer on x

  🚨🚨🚨 @Netflix declines to raise its offer for @WBD, leaving WBD in the hands of David Ellison and his “Superior Proposal” — After repeatedly rebuffing Paramount's offers, the board ultimately got $PARA to raise its bid to $31, up 63% from the original bid of $19 in September [imag…

• @film_girl Christina Warren on x

  this is terrible. hbo will is going to die in exchange for paramount plus bullshit slop. truly an awful day for hollywood and for anyone who loves movies and quality tv https://deadline.com/...

• @eriqgardner Eriq Gardner on x

  Dear Ted, Take 10% of the $2.8B breakup fee—roughly $280 million—and go hire the best investigative journalists in the world. Build a next-gen 60 Minutes. A better CNN. Think of the revenge possibilities.

• @hunteryharris Hunter Harris on x

  two movie studios in the hands of a man tom cruise won't even be in the same room with. i'm SICK 🤢

• @lizrhoffman Liz Hoffman on x

  Hostile M&A is always bloodsport, but I can't remember an acquirer coming out of a process this bloody.  Netflix has a shareholder problem (which doesn't understand why it wanted to buy a legacy studio), a Hollywood talent problem (which doesn't trust them on theater releases), a…

• @brianstelter Brian Stelter on x

  The announcement means that Paramount has suddenly moved much closer to taking over CNN and the rest of the assets owned by WBD. Updating our CNN story here: https://www.cnn.com/...

• @danturrentine Dan Turrentine on x

  As I said on @theDChuddle this morning, Paramount put on a master class in DC bully ball influence. I used work with the Larry's Oracle team when a tech lobbyist. They were incredibly sophisticated and potent. Son clearly learned well. Combined with the deep pockets, it was a

• @sarafischer Sara Fischer on x

  From Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters: “The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal

• @great_katzby Brandon Katz on x

  Netflix's stock is down ~30% since the WBD merger drama began. While losing WBD removes the last clear major growth lever, it likely reestablishes some investor confidence. Longer-term, we'll see if they miss the lost IP. But recent major media mergers rarely worked as hoped.

• @leehepner Lee Hepner on x

  Big development, same remedy: Block it.

• @cgasparino Charles Gasparino on x

  I hate talking about rumors but word on the street is @netflix is pulling its @wbd bid following the recent “reasonably superior bid” announcement. THIS IS NOT CONFIRMED. NO WORD FROM WBD OR NTFLX

• @signulll @signulll on x

  netflix has to be one of the best run companies on the planet.  they're incredibly disciplined in almost every single way, & likely the most thoughtful in execution.  they pumped the price up & forced one of their rivals (paramount) to carry more debt for the acquisition while wa…

• @alexsjacquez Alex Jacquez on x

  Trump will wave this through to get more screens into obsequious hands, but this merger is just as illegal as Netflix's. Democrats must commit to breaking it up when they win power.

• @cgasparino Charles Gasparino on x

  As I said: @netflix pulled

• @tomsteyer Tom Steyer on x

  Oligarchy in full effect. [image]

• @profpaulnary Paul Nary on x

  I am very surprised but also not at all surprised. As I've said multiple times, Netflix was potentially looking for a way out given the increasing headwinds. What is surprising to me is the speed with which Netflix had pulled out, and I respect their choice not to pretend

• @sarafischer Sara Fischer on x

  Smart maneuvering by @WBD board these past few months. — WBD's stock has surged 78% since the first Paramount offer at $19 per share in September, while share prices for Paramount and Netflix have fallen 36% and 30%, respectively.

• @jbflint Joe Flint on x

  “Well fuck” - A CBS News source.

• @sarafischer Sara Fischer on x

  Bottom line: Netflix walked away from an expensive bidding war that wasn't prudent and in doing so, it conveniently leaves one competitor saddled with debt and two competitors burdened by a very long, distracting regulatory approval process — Investors agree. $NFLX shares are up

• @howardlindzon Howard Lindzon on x

  Oracle wins bid for Warner Good. Teddy - focus on better content please and not shit documentaries funded by the documentee long $nflx

• @brianstelter Brian Stelter on x

  Netflix says it saw a “clear path to regulatory approval” but is walking away from the Warner Bros deal anyway. There's reason to wonder about what was said when Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos visited the White House today. More reporting needed. [video]

• @lauraloomer Laura Loomer on x

  VICTORY!  @Netflix just announced they are pulling out of the Warner Bros. merger.  This comes after @loomerunleashed led the charge in exposing the Obama infiltration of Netflix, including Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos being an @BarackObama mega donor and Obama chief spy architect an…

• @chicagopublicsquare.com @chicagopublicsquare.com on bluesky

  So Superman and the rest of the Justice League stand to fall under the control of a Trump-friendly gazillionaire.

• @katieporterca Katie Porter on bluesky

  Donald Trump is trying to manipulate our elections and control the media.  This is a five alarm fire for our democracy.  —  We cannot cede control of our country to the billionaire class.  —  www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/ bus...

• @urocklive1 @urocklive1 on bluesky

  Paramount agreed to pay the $2.8 billion breakup fee that WBD would owe Netflix if that deal didn't go through.  —  Netflix stock spiked in extended trading, while shares of Warner Bros. Discovery fell.  —  Welp, @cnn.com had a nice run.  Their reputation was already sinking.🤷‍♀️…

• @edeggans Eric Deggans on bluesky

  Wow.  Say goodbye to independent journalism at CNN.  The two Davids, Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav and Paramount CEO David Ellison will together likely drive a stake through the heart of one of the best global news operations on TV. https://loom.ly/cbDtaPA

• @harrymccracken.com Harry McCracken on bluesky

  ParaWarner SkyDiscovery sounds like a terrible outcome for the industry, consumers, and democracy.  Looking on the bright side, nobody owns Warner Bros. for very long. www.cnbc.com/2026/02/26/w...

• @chrislhayes Chris Hayes on bluesky

  This really feels like an Orban/Erdogan situation in which the aspiring dictator is making sure his friendly oligarchs control as much media as possible  —  www.cnbc.com/2026/02/26/w...

• @breakify @breakify on bluesky

  Keep in mind that this is only possible because of the AI bubble.  This deal is being backed by Oracle money.

• @davepell Dave Pell on bluesky

  Good news for Netflix.  Terrible news for the rest of us, who are probably getting used to being betrayed by now.  Say goodbye to CNN.  —  www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/b...

• @film_girl@mastodon.social Christina Warren on mastodon

  HBO is now effectively dead.  This is truly terrible.  I cannot think of a worse outcome.  David Zaslav, may you rot. https://deadline.com/...

• @joeo10@mastodon.sdf.org Joe Ortiz on mastodon

  And there you go.  —  The Ellisons, which have a huge ally in the WH will now own CBS, CNN, HBO, Paramount, Warner Brothers, Discovery, and a huge chunk of TikTok.  —  https://www.cnbc.com/...

• r/thedavidpakmanshow r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior

• r/netflix r on reddit

  Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.

• r/TrueAnon r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

• r/weeklyplanetpodcast r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

• r/TurnerClassicMovies r on reddit

  Netflix Bows Out; TCM to go with Paramount

• r/cartoons r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

• r/trektalk r on reddit

  [Streaming] THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: “In a stunning twist, Netflix is declining to raise its bid for Warner Bros., positioning David Ellison's Paramount …

• r/business r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner bros. Deal, Paramount Poised to Win

• r/FilmIndustryLA r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior

• r/Monsterverse r on reddit

  It's over: Netflix declines to raise offer for Warner Bros. Paramount is now expected to acquire the studio.

• r/HeatedRivalryTVShow r on reddit

  Do you think we have to worry about our show?

• r/movies r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior

• r/HarryPotteronHBO r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

• r/ABoringDystopia r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner bros. Deal, Paramount Poised to Win

• r/thebulwark r on reddit

  Netflix is out; Paramount to acquire Warner Bros Discovery pending shareholder, regulatory approval

• r/SnyderCut r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

• r/stupidpol r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

• r/law r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior

• r/boxoffice r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior

• r/vfx r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

• r/Warner_Bros r on reddit

  Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.

• r/RedLetterMedia r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

• r/wallstreetbets r on reddit

  WBD deem Paramount offer Superior

• r/oscarrace r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior

• r/ThePittTVShow r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win; This means that in theory all of Warner's IP will belong to Paramount, including The Pitt

• r/amcstock r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior

• r/OmnibusCollectors r on reddit

  Paramount will soon own DC

• r/technology r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior

• r/gameofthrones r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win.  This means that in theory all of Warner's IP will belong to Paramount, including Game of Thrones.

• r/Star_Trek_ r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner bros. Deal, Paramount Poised to Win

• r/HBOMAX r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

• r/Journalism r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner bros. Deal, Paramount Poised to Win

• r/television r on reddit

  Warner Bros. Discovery deems Paramount Skydance offer superior to Netflix, starting 4-day matching clock

• r/DC_Cinematic r on reddit

  Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.

• r/DCU_ r on reddit

  Well the DCU had a good run...

• r/KotakuInAction r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

• r/popculturechat r on reddit

  Netflix Backs Out of Warner bros. Deal, Paramount Poised to Win

• r/DCULeaks r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior.

• r/entertainment r on reddit

  Warner Bros. Discovery deems Paramount Skydance offer superior to Netflix, starting 4-day matching clock

• About Netflix About Netflix on x

  Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.

• @tailschannel.com @tailschannel.com on bluesky

  Paramount Skydance spent months attempting to outbid Netflix.  Today, the WBD board said Par's $31 per share offer and fee guarantees for the full company is “superior” to Netflix's original bid for $27.75 per share.  —  Netflix said the new price made the deal “no longer financi…

• @djlink David Amador on bluesky

  I feel like Netflix played their cards in a “I'll get paid now to buy both of them at a cheaper price in a few years once the usual merger layoffs- cost cuts-profit decline plays out because I forced them to overpay”  —  www.hollywoodreporte...  [images]

• @stevemullis.net Steve Mullis on bluesky

  Referencing this, of course, and it fucking sucks.  Support independent and non-profit media, now more than ever.  Even more so than the last time I said it.

• @wittywebhandle Blaise Ulysse Bernard Collins on bluesky

  Some people are reaching for the AOL / Time Warner comparrison...  And they're not wrong; but that fails to capture the depth of the risk topology this time around  —  It's approaching something closer to a parallel universe where the merger was Enron / Pets.com instead  —  Genui…

• @mgsiegler.com M.G. Siegler on bluesky

  Per last week, this was always the endgame.  But unclear what Netflix will do now.  They should probably walk at this point - there's too much negativity and nonsense.  Take the $3B and be rid of the headache.  But... they already talked themselves into it... spyglass.org/netflix…

• @spencergreen Spencer Green on bluesky

  First order of business: CNN becomes the Scott Jennings Network.

• @marmel Steve Marmel on bluesky

  Looking forward to the public Senate grilling of Ellison and his son.  —  www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/b...

• r/democrats r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior

• r/ScottGalloway r on reddit

  Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount's offer is deemed superior

• r/ScottGalloway r on reddit

  Great day to ‘Resist and Unsubscribe’

• @sarafischer Sara Fischer on x

  The deal will go thru DOJ & if it sues to block it, an indp court will rule on merits of the case. (State AGs can do same). If a future DOJ seeks to sue to unwind it, same process. Implying “Democrats” will “break up” these deals implies those indp processes would be politicized

• @chrismurphyct Chris Murphy on x

  Paramount should enjoy its growing news monopoly while they have it because when Democrats win back power we are going to break up these anti-democratic information conglomerates. All of them.

• @sharonwaxman @sharonwaxman on x

  This photo kind of tells you everything you need to know. Ted Sarandos leaving the WH today. [image]

• @tanglenews @tanglenews on bluesky

  Netflix said it will not raise its offer for Warner Bros., declining to match Paramount Skydance's bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes HBO and CNN.  —  Warner Bros. Discovery's board found Paramount's offer to be “superior.” about.netflix.com/en/news/netf...