Paramount and Netflix are still battling over Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), and the price talk is getting louder. New reports say Paramount could raise its offer as high as $33 per share to try and force Netflix to either top it or walk away.
Paramount rumored to consider $33 per share
The latest chatter is that Paramount may need to move beyond the low-$30s to win, with $33 getting floated as the kind of number that could change the leverage and make WBD shareholders think twice.
That doesn’t mean $33 is locked in. It means Paramount may feel it has to show a bigger number if it wants to stop Netflix from controlling the tempo of the negotiations.
WBD already pushed for a higher price
WBD has signaled it expects a stronger offer than what was initially on the table, and it gave Paramount a short window to come back with something better. The key point: WBD wants the highest value, fast, and it’s using deadlines to squeeze bidders, which ends tonight for Paramount.
Netflix gets dragged into politics over Susan Rice
While the Paramount vs Netflix fight over WBD plays out, Netflix got hit with a political firestorm tied to board member Susan Rice. The flashpoint was a recent podcast appearance where Rice warned that companies that “take a knee” to Trump could face an “accountability agenda” down the line. That clip got circulated, and Trump used it to attack Netflix and demand she be removed from the board.
Ted Sarandos responded by trying to shut the whole angle down, saying Rice’s board appointment isn’t political and that the WBD push is a business deal, not a political one. But the timing is the problem for Netflix: this controversy landed right in the middle of a high-stakes acquisition fight that already has regulators watching every move.
Why the Trump-Rice blowback matters right now
Even if it’s “just noise,” it’s the kind of noise that can spook investors and complicate a negotiation. Paramount is trying to raise its bid and look like the cleaner path. Netflix is trying to keep the spotlight on price and strategy, not politics.
What to watch next
If Paramount bumps the offer, Netflix has to decide whether it matches, tops it, or steps back. The next move likely comes down to money, timelines, and which buyer looks like the safer bet under regulators.
