The New York Post now reports that Comcast executives are boasting behind the scenes that they “have this in the bag” as final bids for Warner Bros. Discovery are due this week.
Wall Street, however, isn’t buying it. Regulatory hurdles, weak cash reserves, and a heavily leveraged balance sheet make Comcast a long shot despite CEO Brian Roberts’ aggressive push, according to the report.
Regulatory Roadblocks and Trump Factor
According to the site’s antitrust insiders, a Comcast (owns Universal) acquisition could take more than two years and still fail. The company’s debt load, low stock price, and limited liquidity are already red flags.
But the real obstacle is political. Any takeover would require approval from the Trump administration’s DOJ — and as noted, President Trump has no love for the CEO behind MSNBC and Saturday Night Live, two of the most anti-Trump platforms in media.
Meanwhile, Trump has already signaled who he wants to win: Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, whose family has deep ties to Trump.
Saudi Meetings Raise New Questions
The Post also notes Roberts was spotted in Saudi Arabia meeting with the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, the same PIF currently exploring its own bid for WBD, meaning Comcast could be partnering with the Saudis.
A foreign-backed acquisition of a major U.S. media asset raises its own regulatory complications, but the Saudi connection is notable because Trump maintains a friendly relationship with Saudi leadership.
In other words: Trump is friends with the Saudis. Problem solved.
A Hollywood producer has also said the Saudi WBD deal is only one signature away.
Trump Leaning Toward Paramount Skydance
According to the report, Trump is fully prepared to greenlight Paramount Skydance’s nearly $60 billion all-cash offer. The Ellison family’s ties to Trump only strengthen that position, and Paramount Skydance faces far fewer regulatory obstacles than Comcast, Netflix, or Amazon.
With final bids imminent, momentum continues to favor the parties aligned with Trump, and Comcast’s confidence may be misplaced.
