Warner Bros Discovery has officially said that it has received interest from several parties who want to buy all or part of the company. The company’s board is now reviewing different options. One of the bidders is David Ellison’s recently merged company, Paramount Skydance, which is making a serious offer.
If this deal happens, it would create one of the biggest mergers in Hollywood history. It would bring together two of the most well-known studios, Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures, along with their massive collections of movies and TV shows. The television divisions would also combine, joining CBS, MTV, and Comedy Central with HBO, CNN, Discovery Channel, HGTV, and more. Their streaming services, HBO Max and Paramount+, could also merge into a single, larger platform.
But here’s the catch
However, the merger could lead to major job cuts. Combining two large corporations usually means reducing staff to cut costs. Paramount Skydance is already planning to lay off about 2,000 employees in the United States next week, with more cuts expected in other countries. Warner Bros. Discovery currently employs around 35,000 people, while Paramount has about 18,600 workers.
Reports say Ellison and his investors, including his billionaire father Larry Ellison, have already made three offers to buy Warner Bros Discovery. The latest offer was worth nearly $24 per share, mostly in cash. So far, Warner Bros. Discovery has turned down all of these proposals.
WBD’s next move
For now, Warner Bros. Discovery is considering splitting itself into two companies:
- Warner Bros. (focused on streaming and studios)
- Discovery Global (focused on TV networks)
CEO David Zaslav says the company wants to “unlock the full value” of its assets and is reviewing “all strategic alternatives.”
What could the new Hollywood giant look like?
If Ellison pulls this off, a Paramount Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery powerhouse would combine:
- Blockbuster franchises like DC Universe, Harry Potter, Mission: Impossible, Top Gun, and Star Trek.
- TV networks from both sides: CBS, CNN, HGTV, MTV, HBO, and more.
- Streaming dominance with HBO Max and Paramount+ merged into one major platform.
For now, the future of Warner Bros. Discovery remains uncertain. But if Paramount Skydance succeeds in buying it, the merger could reshape the entire entertainment industry.
