The Paramount Global hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery refers to the competing acquisition offer launched by Paramount Global in December 2025. The move came shortly after reports that Netflix was pursuing a historic purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, triggering a rare corporate bidding war among major U.S. media companies.
Paramount’s intervention significantly complicated the proposed Netflix–Warner Bros. deal and immediately raised questions about valuation, regulatory approval, and the long-term future of the Hollywood studio system.
Background
Warner Bros. Discovery, formed in 2022, owns a major collection of entertainment brands, including:
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- HBO and the Max streaming service
- DC Films
- CNN
- Cartoon Network
- Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network
- Warner Bros. Television and animation studios
Years of financial pressure, market shifts toward streaming, and heavy corporate debt made Warner Bros. Discovery a likely acquisition target by late 2025.
Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, Showtime, and Paramount Pictures, faced similar industry challenges as cable television declined and streaming competition intensified.
The hostile bid
Reports on December 10–11, 2025 revealed that Paramount Global presented a **formal hostile bid** to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Unlike Netflix’s still-informal proposal, Paramount directly appealed to shareholders, urging them to consider a merger that would blend traditional television strength with streaming assets.
Key components of the Paramount bid included:
- A valuation intended to exceed the rumored Netflix offer
- Assurance that Warner Bros. Discovery brands would retain more independence
- A proposal to merge Paramount+ with Max
- Promises to “respect legacy entertainment brands” such as HBO and Warner Bros. Pictures
Paramount’s offer implied a major consolidation of two historic Hollywood studios: Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros.
Reasons for the bid
Industry analysts identified several motivations behind Paramount’s aggressive move:
- Strengthening its streaming service, Paramount+, against Netflix and Disney+
- Gaining access to Warner’s enormous film and television library
- Protecting its relevance in a rapidly consolidating entertainment industry
- Preventing Netflix from becoming an overwhelming market leader
- Rescuing Warner Bros. Discovery from financial distress while expanding its own portfolio
Executives at Paramount reportedly viewed the merger as an opportunity to create a “balanced traditional–streaming hybrid company.”
Regulatory and antitrust issues
Experts immediately raised concerns about the deal:
Antitrust concerns
- Paramount and Warner Bros. are two of the five major Hollywood studios, and merging them would sharply reduce competition.
- Combined control of news outlets (CBS News + CNN) raised additional concerns.
- A merger of Paramount+ and Max could stifle competition in the streaming market.
Media consolidation concerns
Critics feared:
- fewer choices for creators and consumers
- higher subscription prices
- weakened bargaining power for actors, writers, and production crews
- reduced diversity of film and television content
U.S. regulators signaled that both the Netflix and Paramount proposals would face heavy scrutiny.
Industry and investor reactions
Reactions in Hollywood and on Wall Street were mixed:
Positive reactions
- Some investors believed the merger could stabilize two struggling companies.
- Analysts said combining Paramount and Warner libraries could create a massive content powerhouse.
- Supporters argued that studios must consolidate to survive the streaming era.
Negative reactions
- Filmmakers and unions warned about reduced job opportunities and fewer studios.
- Analysts argued the combined company would still face intense debt challenges.
- Critics said the merger would destroy creative independence at HBO, DC Films, and Warner Bros. Animation.
Implications for major Warner brands
If Paramount succeeded, it would gain control over:
- HBO / Max – merging with Showtime and Paramount+ would reshape U.S. streaming.
- DC Films – potentially aligned with Paramount Pictures or reorganized under new leadership.
- CNN – would sit alongside CBS News, raising media consolidation concerns.
- Warner Bros. Pictures – one of Hollywood’s “Big Five” studios, combining with another major studio.
Some industry experts predicted U.S. regulators would require divestitures (selling CNN or other assets) for the merger to pass.
Comparison with the Netflix proposal
| Feature | Netflix Proposal | Paramount Proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy | Streaming-first | Hybrid model (streaming + traditional TV) |
| Regulatory risk | High | Extremely high |
| Focus of offer | Integrate HBO/Max into Netflix | Merge Paramount+ with Max |
| Studio implications | Netflix gains major production power | Combines two legacy Hollywood studios |
| News assets | May sell CNN | Would own CNN + CBS News |
Current status
As of December 2025:
- Paramount has formally submitted its interest to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders.
- Netflix has not yet made a formal regulatory filing.
- Warner Bros. Discovery’s board has not endorsed any offer.
- U.S. regulators have issued early antitrust warnings.
- A prolonged bidding and regulatory battle is expected through 2026.
See also
- Netflix–Warner Bros. acquisition
- Paramount Global
- Warner Bros. Discovery
- Streaming services in the United States
- United States media industry
- United States antitrust law
Notes
This article summarizes the hostile bid launched by Paramount Global to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery during December 2025.