Live data from Hacker News

Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros

cnbc.com

141–150 of 424 posts

Re: Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros

#141
post #65
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the political angle of this should not be discounted

I mean it's not even politics in the way most people think about it—like this is just blatant corruption. Trump moved in and said this is my swamp. We're not even gonna get a good investigative journalism podcast about the corruption because it's just right there in front of you. There's not much to uncover.

We need some kind of independent anti-corruption agency, like the one we told Ukraine they had to have to receive aid.

Re: Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros

#142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some context: "Affinity Partners, the private equity firm led by Jared Kushner, is part of Paramount's hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery, according to a regulatory filing." https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/jared-kushner-paramount-war...

The dark side of all this is a propaganda network. The government and who runs it should not be in business I'm sorry. This isn't free markets, it's manipulation and corruption.

This is what happens in markets without a functional regulatory body - when the regulator turns into a market participant. It’s closer to a jungle than anything else.

Re: Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros

#144
post #99
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He did until they paid him off, fired people he doesn't like and his buddy bought it.

Trump stated this today: > My real problem with the show, however, wasn’t the low IQ traitor, it was that the new ownership of 60 Minutes, Paramount, would allow a show like this to air. THEY ARE NO BETTER THAN THE OLD OWNERSHIP, who just paid me millions of Dollars for FAKE REPORTING about your favorite President, ME! Since they bought it, 60 Minutes has actually gotten WORSE! Oh well, far worse things can happen.

Goes to show that paying bullies only buys temporary relief.

Re: Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros

#145
post #134

The success of a Netflix>WBD acquisition would consolidate a third of US streaming markets under one roof, which should receive anti-trust scrutiny. Despite this, there is still a strong appearance of conflict of interest in Trump’s public remarks regarding denying Netflix acquisition the necessary regulatory approval, in conjunction with his son-in-law Jared Kushner being one of the financial backers for Paramount’s…

My guess is that if it went to trial Netflix would win tbh. That’s why Paramount is having to raise its bid substantially, they can’t rely on getting Trump to serve WB up on a platter.

Re: Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros

#146

I just realized that the netflix ceo is a big-time democratic party donor, and that paramount is supposedly being supported by larry ellison (big-time republican/trump donor) and saudis? I'm sensing a strong political/influence angle here by the billionaires.

That is exactly what is going on. Everyone at WB management knows that the Ellisons want to weaponize CNN before the midterms runoffs start in spring.

Re: Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros

#147
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Paramount is dead?

> Paramount is dead? Paramount broke its tradition of barely treading water [1] in 2023 by booking multibillion cable losses [2] before being acquired in a de facto LBO [3] at half the price it traded at in 2005 [4]. (90% off its 2021 peak, though that may have been meme-y.) Paramount Skydance–the one bidding for Warner–has $15bn of debt on $600mm operating cash flow supporting $15bn of equity trading above book valu…

How does one learn to think about companies buying each other. It’s counterintuitive to me for an entity with stock to buy stock in another entity which could itself own stock in the first.

The way you write it I can’t see why WB would be allowed to sell itself when it makes the most sense for Patamount to go bankrupt some time from now and be split up amongst US media; Netflix/HBO/Disney/Peacock

Re: Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros

#148
post #146

I just realized that the netflix ceo is a big-time democratic party donor, and that paramount is supposedly being supported by larry ellison (big-time republican/trump donor) and saudis? I'm sensing a strong political/influence angle here by the billionaires.

That is exactly what is going on. Everyone at WB management knows that the Ellisons want to weaponize CNN before the midterms runoffs start in spring.

> the midterms runoffs

Do you mean primaries? Runoffs are a thing in some elections in the US, but not a thing that would start in spring for the congressional midterms.

Re: Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros

#149

The most concerning aspect for me is the obvious and conspicuously-timed consolidation of these companies under David Ellison. Within the past few months he's taken control of Paramount, CBS, The Free Press, and now he's working on Warner Bros. From everything I've seen he's basically an ideologue, and has already re-structured CBS to align with his vision. Just something that seems very out in the open yet kind of p…

Yes, and he will control CNN just prior to the first midterms runoffs, this is all part of a plan.

Re: Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros

#150

I just realized that the netflix ceo is a big-time democratic party donor, and that paramount is supposedly being supported by larry ellison (big-time republican/trump donor) and saudis? I'm sensing a strong political/influence angle here by the billionaires.

There's no "supposedly."

His kids are nepobabies that each run their own media company. His son is running Paramount, and his daughter has Annapurna.

Post reply on HN