Business
David Ellison’s hunt for WBD made David Zaslav richer — and it may not be over
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison speaks during the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles on October 9, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty Images
This isn’t exactly what David Ellison had planned in September.
Just a few months ago, the Paramount Skydance CEO sent a letter to the Warner Bros. Discovery board of directors arguing a combination of the two media and entertainment companies made sense. That letter was the first of several that offered increasingly higher prices to acquire the company along with arguments of why the assets were better together.
Paramount’s interest spurred a formal sale process — bringing Comcast and Netflix into the mix — which ultimately doubled the value of Warner Bros. Discovery shares and culminated, at least for the moment, in Paramount losing out in the bidding war it started.
On Friday, Netflix announced a deal to acquire HBO Max and the famed Warner Bros. film studio for $27.75 per share, or an equity value of $72 billion. WBD will move forward with a plan to separate out its pay-TV networks, such as CNN and TNT Sports, before the deal closes.
Instead of supercharging Paramount, just months after gaining control of the company through a merger with Skydance, Ellison effectively handed a prized jewel of the media and entertainment industry to its most dominant player, strengthening Netflix’s reach and stripping Paramount and Comcast’s NBCUniversal of an obvious merger target.
“It wasn’t for sale before, and they certainly hadn’t cleaned up the assets or separated the assets in the way they have right now,” said Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos in a conference call Friday morning after announcing the deal. “I think that kind of goes to the ‘why now.'”
Ellison jump-started a process that has made a lot of money for Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, WBD’s executive team and its shareholders.
Zaslav’s share
Zaslav currently owns more than 4.2 million shares of Warner Bros. Discovery, with another 6.2 million shares that would be delivered to him in the future via previously granted stock awards, according to Equilar. Zaslav also has a grant of almost 20.9 million options with an exercise price of $10.16, Equilar found.
Based on the Netflix-WBD transaction price of $27.75 per share, all of that adds up to more than $554 million for the WBD CEO.
Factoring in another 4 million shares that Zaslav is set to receive in January, according to a person close to the situation who declined to be named speaking about the executive’s holdings, the true total is closer to $660 million.
For shareholders, the sale process has brought a similar windfall. Warner Bros. Discovery stock closed at $12.54 on Sept. 10, the day before The Wall Street Journal reported Paramount was preparing a bid for the company.
On Friday morning, Warner Bros. Discovery shares were up almost 3% to more than $25 apiece. That’s more than double Warner Bros. Discovery’s unaffected sale process price and a return to 2022 levels when WarnerMedia and Discovery first merged.
That’s vindication for Zaslav, who has spent nearly four years coming under fire from Hollywood and investors for failing to deliver for shareholders. With Friday’s announcement, he’s effectively pulled victory from the jaws of defeat.
And still, Paramount is likely not done with its pursuit of buying all of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Paramount’s hostile play
Ellison has wasted no time at the helm of Paramount Skydance, transforming the company through deals and acquisitions.
Since the merger closed in August, Paramount has brought on C-suite executives and high-profile Hollywood talent such as the Duffer Brothers. It secured the rights to develop a live-action feature film based on Activision’s Call of Duty video game franchise and struck a $7.7 billion deal for UFC rights.
Ellison’s hunt for Warner Bros. Discovery was his biggest endeavor since taking control of the company.
Paramount’s lawyers sent a letter to Warner Bros. Discovery this week, first reported by CNBC, claiming the sale process had been rigged in Netflix’s direction. Paramount has accused Warner Bros. Discovery of failing to properly consider its offer of $30, all-cash, and instead selling to Netflix as a predetermined outcome.
Netflix made an initial bid for WBD’s studio and streaming assets of $27 a share, according to a person familiar with the matter. That trumped Paramount’s offer at the time and turned the trajectory of the sales talks in Netflix’s direction, said the person, who asked not to be named because the discussions were private.
Paramount was the only bidder interested in acquiring all of WBD’s assets — the film studio, streaming service and TV networks. It has maintained that its offer is superior.
Paramount’s executives and advisors valued the Discovery Global networks portfolio at close to $2 a share, based on its predicted trading multiple and estimated leverage ratio, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because the discussions were private. Discovery Global would include the CNN, TNT Sports and Discovery channels.
Warner Bros. Discovery believes Discovery Global could have a value of $3 per share or more if it trades well in the public markets, according to other people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Paramount has also argued there are tax efficiencies for shareholders in acquiring the whole company rather than buying only a portion of it, and that Netflix’s bid comes with steeper regulatory risk. The Trump administration’s view of the proposed combination is one of “heavy skepticism,” CNBC reported Friday.
Paramount offered a break-up fee of $5 billion if the proposed deal didn’t get regulatory approval, according to the people familiar.
Netflix’s bid included a $5.8 billion break-up fee in case the deal doesn’t get regulatory approval, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Friday.
Paramount is now weighing its options about whether to go straight to shareholders with one more improved bid — perhaps even higher than the $30-per-share, all-cash offer it submitted to WBD this week.
If it does, Netflix would have a chance to match that bid. The end result would mean even more money for WBD shareholders — and more money for Zaslav.
— CNBC’s Nick Wells contributed to this report.
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC. Versant would become the new parent company of CNBC upon Comcast’s planned spinoff of Versant.
Last Updated:
Gold is sold at a discount in Dubai due to Middle East conflict disrupting flights. Traders offer up to $30 per ounce less than London prices.
Dubai Gold Selling Cheaper As Iran War Grounds Flights
Gold is being sold at a discount in Dubai as the widening conflict in the Middle East disrupts flights and hampers the movement of bullion from one of the world’s key trading hubs.
According to a Bloomberg report, traders in Dubai are offering discounts of up to $30 per ounce compared to the global benchmark price in London. The unusual price cut comes as shipments remain stranded due to flight disruptions triggered by the escalating conflict involving Iran and Israel.
Dubai is a key global centre for refining and exporting gold to markets across Asia, including India. However, partial airspace restrictions and heightened security risks have slowed the movement of bullion out of the region.
Why Gold Is Being Sold Cheaper
Gold is typically transported in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft. With several flights from the UAE restricted amid regional tensions, traders are struggling to move bullion to international markets.
At the same time, insurance and freight costs have surged, making shipments more expensive and uncertain. Many buyers have therefore stepped back from placing new orders, unwilling to bear high logistics costs without assurance of timely delivery.
To avoid paying prolonged storage and financing costs while shipments remain stuck, some traders are offering gold at discounted prices.
Although transporting bullion by road to airports in neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia or Oman is theoretically possible, logistics firms are reluctant due to the risks and complications of moving high-value cargo across land borders during a conflict.
What It Means For India
India, one of the largest buyers of gold shipped from Dubai, could face short-term supply disruptions if the situation continues.
Renisha Chainani, head of research at Augmont Enterprises Ltd., said several cargo shipments have already been delayed, creating temporary tightness in the availability of physical bullion in India.
However, industry experts as reported by Bloomberg say the immediate impact may remain limited as domestic inventories are currently comfortable after heavy imports earlier this year.
Chirag Sheth, principal consultant for South Asia at Metals Focus, said Bloomberg that India has ample stocks for now, but warned that prolonged disruptions could eventually affect supply if the conflict continues for several months.
Meanwhile, global gold prices have surged this year amid geopolitical uncertainty, with spot gold recently trading above $5,000 per ounce.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google.
Follow News18 on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18. Stay updated with all the latest business news, including market trends, stock updates, tax, IPO, banking finance, real estate, savings and investments. To Get in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and real-time updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated.
March 08, 2026, 10:03 IST
Read More
Some seven in 10 British adults without a full driving licence say learning to drive is currently unaffordable, according to a survey.
The figure is even higher among younger people, with 76% of 18 to 29-year-olds without a licence saying driving lessons are financially out of reach, the poll for car insurer Prima found.
Overall, 38% said the cost of driving lessons was the biggest deterrent to learning to drive.
Some 32% were put off by the price of buying a car and 15% said the cost of car insurance was the main barrier to learning to drive.
Almost half (45%) said they would consider learning to drive if it became significantly cheaper.
Nick Ielpo, UK country manager at Prima, said: “For a growing number of people, driving is no longer a symbol of freedom – it’s a financial stretch too far.
“Between lessons, buying a car and insuring it, the upfront and ongoing costs are pricing many people out before they even start.”
Find Out Now surveyed 1,134 adults who do not hold a full driving licence between January 21 and 23.
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) KSE-100 index experienced a sharp decline in the outgoing week, closing at 157,496 points, down 6.3% week-on-week, or 10,566 points.
This follows last week’s fall and brings the cumulative decline from its January 2026 peak of around 189,167 points to nearly 17%. The sell-off was driven by heightened geopolitical tensions stemming from the US-Iran conflict, which has rattled regional markets and prompted investors to reduce exposure amid fears of broader instability, rising energy prices and domestic security concerns.
On a day-on-day basis, the PSX commenced the week with its historical single-day decline as the benchmark KSE-100 index plunged 16,089 points, or 9.57%, to close at 151,973. Next day, it staged a partial recovery, with the index advancing 5,159 points, or 3.39%, at 157,132.
On Wednesday, however, the PSX witnessed a directionless session, when the KSE-100 closed at 155,777, down 1,355 points (-0.86%). The PSX recorded a sharp rebound on Thursday, with the benchmark index gaining 5,433 points (+3.49%) to close at 161,211. The market closed the week on a cautious note as the KSE-100 dropped by 3,715 points (-2.30%) to settle at 157,496.
In its weekly report, Arif Habib Limited (AHL) mentioned that the KSE-100 index witnessed a lacklustre performance during the outgoing week, closing at 157,496 points, down 6.3% WoW (10,566 points) amid geopolitical tensions due to the US-Iran conflict. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for February 2026 hit 7% year-on-year, the highest level since October 2024, compared to 5.8% in January 2026.
Among other economic data, a trade deficit of $3 billion was recorded in February. Exports amounted to $2.3 billion (-8% YoY) while imports reached $5.3 billion, down 1.6% YoY. Total cement dispatches for the month rose 12.53% YoY to 4.19 million tons compared to 3.73 million tons in February 2025. Provisional urea offtake remained subdued, falling 28% YoY to 251k tons, marking the lowest monthly offtake.
AHL mentioned that gas production edged down 0.1% WoW to 2,687 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) in the fourth week of Feb’26, while oil output fell 2.9% WoW to 59,103 barrels per day. A total of Rs581.7 billion was raised in the T-bill auction on Wednesday, with yields increasing across all tenors by 21.5 to 39.3 basis points. The government’s debt increased by 1% month-on-month to Rs79.3 trillion (+10% YoY) as of Jan’26 against Rs72.1 trillion in Jan’25.
Pakistan’s liquid foreign exchange reserves were recorded at $21.4 billion, up by $26.2 million, comprising $16.3 billion with the State Bank and $5.1 billion with commercial banks, AHL added.
Muhammad Waqas Ghani, Head of Research at JS Global, noted that the KSE-100 extended its decline during the week as heightened geopolitical tensions weighed on the market. The index dropped 10,566 points (-6.3%) WoW, following last week’s 5,108-point decline, pushing the cumulative fall from its January 2026 peak of 189,167 points to nearly 17%.
Market activity remained volatile throughout the week as investors continued to reduce exposure amid regional tensions and domestic security concerns. Sentiment also remained cautious ahead of key macro developments, with the IMF mission currently engaging with Pakistani authorities for the third review of the loan programme.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the inflation clocked in at 7% YoY for Feb’26, the highest since Oct’24. “We expect the SBP to keep its policy rate unchanged at 10.5% in the upcoming meeting as rising global oil prices may add to inflationary pressures,” he said.
Pakistan was exploring options to manage a potential gas shortfall after Qatar Energy halted LNG production following Iran’s attacks. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia assured Pakistan of secure oil supplies through the Port of Yanbu on the Red Sea to help meet energy needs. The government was also reviewing a proposal to shift to weekly revision of petroleum prices from fortnightly reviews, the JS head of research said.
Prince William, Kate declare distance from Beatrice, Eugenie at royal event
President Pezeshkian’s gesture to neighbors immediately killed by Trump: Iran FM
Christian Bale makes shocking confession about Jacob Elordi’s ‘Frankenstein’
-
Sports1 week agoLPGA legend shares her feelings about US women’s Olympic wins: ‘Gets me really emotional’
-
Entertainment1 week agoPakistan’s semi-final qualification scenario after England defeat New Zealand
-
Fashion1 week agoSouth Korea’s Misto Holdings completes planned leadership transition
-
Entertainment1 week agoBobby J. Brown, “The Wire” and “Law & Order: SUV” actor, dies of smoke inhalation after reported fire
-
Business1 week agoGreggs to reveal trading amid pressure from cost of living and weight loss drugs
-
Business1 week agoCNBC To Merge TV And Digital News Operations, Nearly A Dozen Jobs To Be Cut: Report
-
Entertainment1 week agoWhat’s new in Pokémon? Every game, update, surprise from 30th anniversary event
-
Politics1 week agoIran launches retaliation against Israel, launches ballistic missiles