It’s confirmed that Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount have had discussions to merge the two companies.
Recall how I said David Zaslav has been prepping a sale, where I was first told “hopefully” to Universal.
Warner Bros. Discovery includes properties such as CNN, HBO, Game of Thrones, Batman, Superman, Justice League, DC films, TV, gaming and comic book universes, and lots more. Paramount Global, the parent company of Paramount Pictures, owns Paramount+, Nickelodeon, Showtime, Transformers, Star Trek, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mission Impossible, Top Gun, and others.
Considering combining their assets across TV, film, sports, and streaming
Variety confirms: “Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish on Tuesday in New York to discuss a possible merger, sources said. Zaslav also has spoken to Shari Redstone, whose National Amusements Inc. owns a controlling stake in Paramount Global, about a potential combination of the companies.”
Axios first reported on the talks of the merger and added that WBD has hired bankers to explore the deal. The site also adds that talks are in very early stages and doesn’t guarantee it’s happening. WBD is valued at around 29 billion with Paramount at $10 billion.
Recently also saw the news that the Saudis, backed by an $800 billion investment fund, are eying the purchase of Paramount.
No specific details are known about the merger, but as noted, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount are obviously considering combining their assets across TV, film, sports, and streaming to enhance their scale and streamline operations. The focus of merging would be to combine their Max and Paramount+ streaming services aiming to strengthen their competitive edge and better compete against major players such as Netflix, Disney’s Disney+, and Hulu.
In addition to streaming, the TV side of things would combine. Warner Bros. Discovery’s popular cable TV lineup includes HBO, TNT, TBS, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, Food Network, HGTV, TLC and others. Paramount’s TV networks include CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and BET.
I’ve been also told that Zaslav is hoping that a sale of WBD will end up with the company getting split into parts and that Zaslav hopes to retain control of Discovery. In Variety’s report, it’s mentioned that Shari Redstone also wants to sell her Paramount shares with Skydance Media interested, and there is speculation “that a buyer of Redstone’s NAI stake would be interested in carving up Paramount Global into pieces, separating the studios group from the legacy TV business.”
What about DC?
Regarding what happens to DC as James Gunn just came on board to develop the DCU and Superman: Legacy, I was told if WBD did get sold to Universal, Universal would “probably” continue with the Gunn Verse.
We can guess (hope?) the same could apply if WBD and Paramount merge.
