The competition for one of the world's most prestigious film studios is entering its final phase. Netflix is offering a strategic partnership and wide theatrical distribution, while David Ellison's Paramount Skydance is trying to outbid this proposal. The matter has involved not only corporate directors but also U.S. senators, regulatory bodies, and prominent creators such as James Cameron, who warns of the risk of monopolizing the streaming market.

Netflix's New Cinema Strategy

The platform declares a 45-day cinema window for all major Warner Bros. Discovery productions, aimed at satisfying regulators and the film community.

Political Pressure on Paramount

Democrats are calling on David Ellison to disclose details of talks with Donald Trump regarding facilitating the merger by state bodies.

James Cameron's Warnings

The famous director sent a letter to Senator Mike Lee, indicating that the loss of WBD's independence would threaten tens of thousands of jobs in Hollywood.

DOJ Investigation

The U.S. Department of Justice is interviewing cinema chain executives to assess whether the studio's sale threatens to limit competition.

The media market is closely following the dynamically changing situation around Warner Bros. Discovery. Netflix, previously associated mainly with a digital model, has proposed a precedent-setting strategy change to convince WBD shareholders. The company's co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, declared the introduction of a 45-day window of exclusivity for cinemas before films land on the streaming platform. This is a direct response to concerns from the film community and the U.S. Department of Justice, which is investigating the impact of the merger on traditional cinema chains. Warner Bros. was founded in 1923 and for decades has been a symbol of Hollywood's power, co-creating the studio system that defined 20th-century global mass culture. Simultaneously, political tension is growing around the competing offer from Paramount Skydance. A group of Democratic senators sent a letter to David Ellison, demanding explanations regarding alleged contacts with the Donald Trump administration. It is suspected that lobbying may have aimed to facilitate antitrust processes. Controversy also arose from the actions of the FCC, which, according to commentators, is pressuring television stations, leading to a high-profile dispute between Stephen Colbert and the CBS network over an interview with a Senate candidate. 70 billion USD — is the estimated market value of Warner Bros. Discovery Voices from within the studio indicate that employees are leaning towards Netflix's offer, fearing restructuring under Paramount's leadership. The decisive factor may be the extraordinary shareholder meeting scheduled for this Friday. Netflix has significant cash reserves, allowing it to respond flexibly to any potential bid increase by the competitor. Experts note that the outcome of this battle will permanently change the balance of power in the global entertainment and technology sector. „The combination of Netflix and Warner will be more beneficial for cinemas because our scale will attract a larger audience to theaters.” — Ted Sarandos Key Bidding Stages: February 10 — Cameron's Letter; February 17 — Paramount's Counter; February 19 — Netflix's Declaration; February 20 — Voting Comparison of Strategic Offers: Theatrical Distribution: Hybrid model or short theatrical presence → Guaranteed 45 days of theatrical exclusivity; Financing: Loans and risky leveraging → Netflix's high cash reserves; Political Support: Skepticism towards IT giants → DOJ and FCC scrutiny of Paramount's contacts Emphasizes freedom of speech and criticizes FCC pressure on CBS in the context of Stephen Colbert. | Focuses on benefits from deregulation and possible strengthening of Paramount through new alliances.

Mentioned People

  • Ted Sarandos — Co-CEO of Netflix, pushing the plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
  • James Cameron — Director who expressed opposition to the monopolization of the market by streaming giants.
  • David Ellison — President of Paramount Skydance, Netflix's competitor in the battle for Warner's assets.
  • Stephen Colbert — Host of a show on CBS, embroiled in a dispute over censorship of a political interview.