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Casey Bloys isn’t ready to reveal details on his future at the combined Paramount-Warner Bros. just yet. But speaking Thursday at the Bloomberg Screentime conference, he didn’t deny expectations that he will continue to run HBO Max and add Paramount+ to the mix once the merger is official. “I’m not going to get into my […]
If Ted Sarandos is concerned about any competitive edge that a Paramount/Warner Bros. merger might pose, he’s not showing it. Speaking Wednesday at the Bloomberg Screentime conference, Sarandos was mostly dismissive of any rivalry: “It’s looked on paper so far it’s one and one,” he said, referring to the company’s two streaming services. “So I […]
Paramount chief David Ellison, after a fierce year-long battle, is finally about to get his hands on Warner Bros. Discovery — in the most expensive takeover in Hollywood history. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, who is overseeing the antitrust case aimed at blocking the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal approved Paramount’s settlement with the 12 […]
Ynon Kreiz, who is stepping down as CEO of Mattel after eight years, will join David Ellison’s Paramount — which is expected to close its mega-merger with Warner Bros. Discovery on Oct. 6 — as co-CEO of the new company, Paramount announced. As chairman and CEO, Ellison will lead all strategy, creative and technology functions. […]
Last week, politicians decided they could not let Hollywood slip away. First, California Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed for a resolution of the Paramount antitrust case out of fear that the studio would leave the state. And in Congress, Republicans and Democrats joined to introduce a U.S. film incentive, recognizing they are at risk of losing […]
In the end, Casey Bloys knew he was holding all the cards. As the industry continued to speculate about whether the HBO boss or Paramount’s Cindy Holland would wind up with control of the two companies’ soon-to-be-merged streaming behemoth, in recent weeks the momentum seemed to be on Bloys’ side. So when Paramount direct-to-consumer chair […]
HBO chief Casey Bloys is poised to take the reins of all of Paramount and Warner Bros. streaming operations once the two companies merge. On Tuesday, Cindy Holland announced she was stepping down from her role running Paramount+ and other direct to consumer streamers under the Paramount umbrella. The shuffle comes as Paramount Skydance is […]
Paramount and a coalition of 12 state attorneys general defended their antitrust settlement on Monday from a series of criticisms raised last week by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. In separate filings, the two sides argued that the deal was vigorously negotiated, has “teeth,” and should not be subjected to an independent “public interest” review. […]
Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion agreement to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery is not quite a done deal, but the company is preparing for the deal to close within the next few weeks. In an SEC filing Friday, Paramount said its board on Sept. 25 “determined to voluntarily withdraw the listing of its Class B common […]
A coalition of groups under the Block the Merger banner have filed an amicus brief – a third party representation in a court case – opposing the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The brief was filed late Thursday by Free Press, the Committee for the First Amendment, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, the Future […]
The judge overseeing the antitrust case filed by 12 state attorneys general seeking to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger questioned the parties about their settlement at a hearing Thursday. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín has not yet ruled on whether to approve the proposed settlement, and set the virtual hearing to cover “outstanding questions” […]
Paramount Skydance said Thursday it is launching a syndication to raise $7.5 billion through a proposed senior secured incremental tranche of term “B” loans. The David Ellison-led company it will use the funds toward its $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger and to pay down certain other debt. In total, Paramount said it now intends […]
A coalition of groups working under the Block the Merger banner have filed an emergency request to oppose Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery ahead of a court hearing in California this morning pertaining to the deal. The motion for an amicus brief – enabling interested parties to present legal arguments relating to a case […]
CNN’s top executive told staffers Wednesday that he wants to stay at the news giant, but has little knowledge of what the outlet’s soon-to-be new corporate parent has in store. “I am enthusiastic about staying,” CNN CEO Mark Thompson told employees during a town hall meeting, according to two people with knowledge of his remarks. […]
David Ellison, seeking fresh capital for a merged Paramount-Warner Bros., is considering reaching out to Elon Musk — the controversial tech mogul who is the world’s richest person — to “become part of a syndicate of equity investors into Paramount,” according to a report by Semafor. According to the report, citing anonymous sources, “Musk’s name […]
When Rob Bonta sued to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger in July, he said he was doing so because the Trump administration had failed to act for political reasons. “They are greenlighting deals that their own antitrust section at U.S. DOJ knows and believes are unlawful, and they’re overriding them in the White House with […]
Paramount’s deal with the 12 state attorneys general to settle their antitrust lawsuit over the Warner Bros. Discovery merger is not official just yet: The judge in the case has some “outstanding questions” about the settlement, which requires her approval before it takes effect. In an order issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin granted […]
In line with mega-mergers that have come before, the impending marriage of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery will lead to a media company packed with assets. What differentiates this deal — which is now in the clear to move forward — from others is the sheer amount of brands and intellectual property in play. […]
Update: David Ellison isn’t looking for greener pastures. The CEO of Paramount Skydance (soon to include Warner Bros. Discovery) issued an official statement that both content studios will remain in California. “Now that we reached and announced a settlement, we’re eager to get to work building a stronger Hollywood. Let me be clear: the newly […]
After almost a year in the trenches pulling together his historic combination of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, David Ellison has finally emerged victorious. On Monday, the Silicon Valley heir confirmed he’d reached a settlement with a group of state attorneys general, who sued to block the merger over antitrust concerns. The proposed merger […]
