Dec 5, 2025, 7:55 a.mDec 5, 2025, 7:55 a.m
According to media reports, the streaming giant Netflix is at the forefront of the bidding war for Hollywood veteran Warner Brothers. Netflix submitted the highest bid, reported the news channel CNN, which itself belongs to the Warner Bros. Discovery media group.
Warner Bros. studio in Burbank, California.Image: EPA
Warner is now negotiating exclusively with Netflix, wrote the Bloomberg news agency and the Wall Street Journal, citing informed people. Warner Bros. Discovery officially put itself up for sale in October after receiving multiple takeover offers.
In addition to the Hollywood studios and the streaming service HBO Max, the group also owns several television channels. Netflix is reportedly only interested in the production and streaming business.
Warner originally wanted to spin off the station into an independent company anyway. The companies initially did not comment on the reports.
Netflix vs Paramount
Paramount is considered Netflix’s toughest competitor in the bidding war. Warner’s old Hollywood rival was recently taken over by billionaire film producer David Ellison and his family. Ellison now wants to gain size in one fell swoop by taking over Warner.
Paramount in Los Angeles, California.Image: EPA
With the acquisition, Netflix would, among other things, bring Batman and Superman as well as numerous HBO series from “Game of Thrones” to “The Sopranos” into the house. At the same time, the service would also be active in the cinema business – until now, Netflix has always refused to release its films in large cinemas and preferred to concentrate on streaming.
Is Netflix too big?
According to CNN, Netflix’s bid represents a price of $28 per share for the studio and streaming business. Paramount is therefore around $27, but unlike Netflix, wants to buy the entire company including the TV channels.
Warner Bros. Discovery shares closed at around $24.50 on Thursday. Netflix also wants to pay Warner a contractual penalty of five billion dollars if the deal fails due to resistance from competition watchdogs.
The considerations are not unfounded: Netflix is the clear market leader in the streaming business. The service ended last year with a good 300 million paying customer households worldwide, after which no more figures were given. HBO Max recently had 128 million subscription customers.
Control of CNN
The takeover battle also has a political dimension. Paramount was bought primarily with the money of David Ellison’s father – software entrepreneur Larry Ellison, who is known as a supporter of US President Donald Trump. After the takeover, there were changes in the newsroom of the Paramount network CBS.
In the United States in recent weeks, the question has repeatedly been raised as to whether the news channel CNN, which often reports critically on the Trump administration, would take a different tone under the ownership of the Ellison family. (sda/awp/dpa)