Overview
- Warner Bros. Discovery has a signed agreement to sell its studios and streaming assets to Netflix for $27.75 per share, with the board still recommending the deal while allowing short-term talks with Paramount under a waiver.
- Paramount Skydance said the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino waiting period for its reported $108.4 billion all‑cash hostile bid expired on Feb. 19, a step that does not prevent the U.S. Justice Department from continuing its review or suing to block a deal.
- James Cameron urged antitrust scrutiny in a Feb. 10 letter to Sen. Mike Lee, calling a Netflix takeover “disastrous” for theaters and warning of fewer films and widespread job losses, while questioning how any theatrical‑window pledge would be enforced.
- Netflix co‑CEO Ted Sarandos publicly rejected claims of a 17‑day window, reiterated a 45‑day theatrical exclusivity for Warner Bros. releases, and accused Cameron of joining a Paramount “disinformation campaign,” while asserting Netflix would keep a robust slate in theaters.
- Regulators in the U.S. and Europe are reviewing both potential transactions, shareholder approvals would still be required, and investors have priced in deal risk with Netflix shares declining since the acquisition plan was announced.