(qlmbusinessnews.com . Fri 12th Sep, 2025) London, UK —
Warner Brothers Discovery Shares Skyrocket Amid Takeover Buzz by Paramount Skydance
Shares in Warner Brothers Discovery and Paramount Skydance have soared following rumours that Paramount Skydance is concocting a bid to take over its competitor.
This potential acquisition aims to envelop the entirety of Warner Brothers Discovery, a conglomerate boasting assets including the news titan Reporters, entertainment powerhouse HBO, and the film workshop responsible for blockbusters like Barbie and Harry Potter.
Should this transaction come to pass, it would signify a further unification within the American media landscape, already transformed by the streaming revolution, at a time when media entities are under the magnifying glass of President Donald Trump's government.
Warner Brothers Discovery has chosen to keep its counsel, refraining from remarks. Equally, Paramount Skydance has remained silent in response to solicitation for commentary.
The Wall Street Journal initially aired the news of Paramount Skydance's intended proposal.
Steering the ship at the firm is David Ellison, son of Oracle's co-creator Larry Ellison, who just this week was briefly anointed the globe's wealthiest individual.
This development trails closely behind the finalisation of Paramount Skydance's colossal $8bn (£5.89bn) merger, where David Ellison's independent production company, Skydance, absorbed Paramount, the banner flying over CBS news and popular productions like Yellowstone.
Further to this, Ellison is reportedly on the verge of acquiring The Free Press, a digital journalism venture co-established by Bari Weiss.
Upon the closure of trading on Thursday, shares in Warner Brothers Discovery had vaulted by 29%, while Paramount Skydance's stocks enjoyed a 16% uplift.
Despite such vigorous market movements, The Wall Street Journal highlighted that no formal bid has been tabled as yet, leaving room for the situation to disintegrate.
David Ellison threw his hat into the cinematic ring after departing from the University of Southern California roughly twenty years ago, earning his stripes in Hollywood with producer credits on films such as Top Gun Maverick and World War Z.
His father, a confidant of Trump, momentarily eclipsed Elon Musk as the planet's wealthiest, boasting a fortune north of $380bn, as per Bloomberg Billionaires index. Trump had earlier mooted him as a contender for purchasing TikTok.
Ellison junior's venture into the Paramount acquisition thrusts him into the political arena too.
The agreement endured a drawn-out ratification process, mired by Trump's legal entanglement with CBS regarding an interview with Kamala Harris, which he contended was edit to favour the Democratic narrative.
To resolve the dispute, Paramount consented to a $16m settlement, earmarked for a future presidential library, devoid of any apology or expression of regret.
Democrats have decried the settlement as a “bribe”, a claim Paramount refutes, even as demands for disclosure regarding the negotiation details persist from the party.
Upon giving its blessing to the deal, external authorities noted Skydance's pledge to champion a diversity of perspectives within its content, discontinuing Paramount's diversity initiatives, and the appointment of an ombudsman to handle bias complaints.
In a prelude to the agreement's sanction, Paramount announced the cessation of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026, sparking debates among Democrats over potential political motivations behind the decision, a suggestion firmly denied by the company.
In addition, Paramount disclosed a five-year contract in July to broadcast the satirical adult cartoon series South Park on its streaming platform, snatching the show from HBO's clutches.
Warner Brothers Discovery, forged from a 2022 merger, has since been grappling with debt issues and has enacted considerable layoffs.
Earlier this year, the corporation publicised plans to bifurcate, segregating its streaming services from its traditional cable television operations.
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