Business
WBD and Paramount may have an easier time winning regulatory approval than Netflix
The Paramount logo is displayed above an entrance to Paramount Studios on Feb. 23, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
A day after Paramount Skydance emerged as the winner to take over fellow media giant Warner Bros. Discovery, questions are mounting about the companies’ regulatory path forward.
The WBD board said on Thursday that Paramount’s revised $31-per-share offer was superior to an existing bid from Netflix, prompting the streamer to announce that it was walking away from the deal entirely and clearing the way for Paramount.
Paramount’s raised offer — up from $30 per share — was the latest in a series of moves it made after it launched a hostile bid late last year to buy WBD. It had initially lost out on a bidding war to Netflix, which offered $27.75 per share.
Paramount’s latest bid also included a $7 billion breakup fee if the deal doesn’t win regulatory approval. And according to a Friday filing, it has already paid the $2.8 billion breakup fee that WBD owed to Netflix if the deal fell through.
But media industry experts said it’s looking more likely that the Paramount deal will get through government scrutiny than it did when Netflix was in the picture.
Netflix vs. Paramount
Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said Thursday that it was “no longer financially attractive” to match Paramount’s raised offer.
Though Netflix executives had said they were “highly confident” that their deal would win approval, the merger would have brought together two top streaming services — Netflix and Paramount+ — and could have potentially raised prices for consumers and decreased competition.
In early December, Trump said the Netflix-WBD deal “could be a problem” because of the increased market share Netflix would gain, saying he would be involved. He walked back those comments earlier this month, saying the deal would be at the sole discretion of the Department of Justice.
And while the size of a combined Netflix and WBD entity was one of the companies’ largest antitrust obstacles, that issue could still be raised for Paramount.
Both Paramount and WBD have sprawling portfolios of TV networks, in addition to Paramount+ hitting 78.9 million subscribers, according to its most recent earnings report, and HBO Max counting 131.6 million subscribers through the end of 2025.
Paramount executives argued one of the pros of their offer was that a deal with the media company would garner less government scrutiny. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison’s father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, is known to have close relations with President Donald Trump.
Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is backing the Paramount deal, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Still, Paramount’s proposed deal had come under criticism for potentially being funded by the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Qatar. The company has previously said that those entities have agreed to forgo all governance rights, including board representation.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, warned on Thursday night that the merger was “not a done deal” and that the California Department of Justice, which has an open investigation into the deal, will be vigorous in its review.
And Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said in a statement that the Paramount and WBD merger is “an antitrust disaster threatening higher prices and fewer choices for American families.”
A potential for fewer concerns
Analysts from Raymond James said they believe the Paramount-WBD deal could pose far less of a risk for regulatory approval than a Netflix tie-up.
In a Friday note, the analysts said the regulatory path forward for Paramount is “meaningfully easier” than Netflix’s, though it would not be a “cakewalk.”
“Of course, there are new challenges with this deal around news, cable networks, international linear networks, etc., but we still feel the WBD/PSKY deal is more palatable all-in,” the analysts wrote. “And, particularly following the reaction to the WBD/NFLX agreement, we believe PSKY’s political standing with the current U.S. administration is much stronger than Netflix’s.”
The analysts noted that questions remain about how the competitive market for the companies will be defined by the DOJ, and they speculated that Netflix likely decided not to match Paramount’s superior offer because of what was “likely to be a brutal regulatory review.”
A Friday note by Morningstar analysts echoed those thoughts. The analysts said the move was right for both Netflix and Paramount because they believed Netflix was unnecessarily overpaying for WBD’s streaming and studios.
Notably, Paramount aimed to buy the entirety of WBD, including its pay-TV networks, such as CNN, TBS and TNT, while Netflix only wanted the company’s studio and streaming assets.
“This is the best outcome for Warner shareholders, in our view, as we’ve felt that, with a higher likelihood of prompt regulatory approval and uncertainty surrounding the value and risk of the network business they would have retained, the best offer would have been $30 in cash,” the analysts wrote.
The analysts added that they don’t expect Paramount to face any regulatory issues during the approval process.
‘Horizontal consolidation’
Joseph Kalmenovitz, an assistant professor of finance at the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester, said Paramount’s timing for the bid was likely strategic.
“David Ellison didn’t just outmaneuver a Hollywood board — he timed the regulatory cycle perfectly,” Kalmenovitz said. “The populist, big-is-bad philosophy is out; the deal-friendly establishment is back in.”
Still, Paren Knadjian, a partner at advisory firm EisnerAmper, said the regulatory path forward for Paramount remains nuanced and isn’t a done deal. While concerns over the Netflix-WBD deal focused largely on library content, the Paramount-WBD deal is far more of a “horizontal consolidation” effort between cable TV, sports, streaming and news, he said.
“I think the biggest thing we’re going to focus on is the concentration of intellectual property under one roof,” Knadjian told CNBC. “What power does that give this new entity in terms of the ability to charge more?”
Knadjian said Paramount will also be facing political concerns, not only from state and federal politicians, but between CNN and CBS combining under one roof, in addition to concerns over blockbuster franchises like “Star Trek” and “Harry Potter.”
Ultimately, the approval of the deal will come down to which concessions the two companies will have to make in order to assuage any fears over a possible media monopoly.
“The regulatory pressure, the political pressure, those are the things that will certainly delay the deal and will make it more complicated, and I think there’s going to have to be significant concessions for it to go through.
There’s so many factors to this. It’s much more complicated than many of the other deals we’ve seen in the past,” Knadjian said.
– CNBC’s Lillian Rizzo contributed to this report.
Business
From early flop to Hollywood heavyweight, Skydance eyes Warner Bros takeover after 20-year rise – The Times of India
Two decades after debuting with a box office failure that drew harsh reviews, Skydance Productions is now poised to become one of the most powerful forces in global entertainment, with a proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery marking the latest chapter in its dramatic rise, according to news agency AP report.Founded in 2006 by David Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, the studio began as a relatively obscure entrant in Hollywood. Its first film, Flyboys, a World War I drama starring Ellison himself, failed commercially and critically, prompting early doubts about the company’s future.Yet the studio steadily built momentum through partnerships, strategic financing and franchise-driven successes. Today, following its merger with Paramount and a fresh bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, Skydance stands on the verge of transforming into a media powerhouse spanning film, television, streaming and news assets.“It’s only a surprise to those who haven’t been paying attention to the long game,” said Walter Nicoletti, founder of film production company Voce Spettacolo. “This is a sort of a silent takeover. Skydance didn’t start as a predator. It started as an essential partner.”
From outsider to industry player
When Ellison launched Skydance at age 23, the company barely registered in Hollywood’s competitive landscape. Early criticism of Flyboys was scathing, with reviewers calling it “cloyingly formulaic” and an “inflated wannabe epic.”Despite setbacks, Ellison continued investing in large-scale productions and partnerships with major studios and platforms including Paramount, Netflix and Apple. Over time, Skydance produced a string of commercially successful films and series, culminating in the billion-dollar hit Top Gun: Maverick in 2022 starring Tom Cruise.Jason Squire, a former studio executive and emeritus professor at the University of Southern California, said Ellison’s rise reflected both persistence and financial backing.“One of the traditions of entering the movie business is serious wealth, or access to serious wealth,” Squire said, AP quoted. “But once you get a foothold, you have to demonstrate that wealth — by buying things, acquiring projects… They became a player.”He added, “He became a member at the table when these partnerships and the infusion of dollars really set him up on a really strong trajectory. It’s quite amazing.”
Expansion through mergers and deals
Rather than being acquired by a larger studio, Skydance ultimately became the acquirer. After years of collaboration, it merged with Paramount last year, gaining control of networks including MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and CBS.Since then, Ellison has expanded aggressively, securing agreements ranging from streaming rights for Ultimate Fighting Championship to partnerships with creators of the hit series Stranger Things.Netflix had also been viewed as a potential buyer of Warner Bros. Discovery, but Skydance ultimately emerged as the winning bidder after the streaming giant withdrew its offer. Regulatory approval remains the final hurdle.Tre Lovell, a Los Angeles media lawyer, described the company’s ascent as unprecedented. “This was absolutely a meteoric rise. Two decades from its formation to its current position to become one of the most powerful media companies in the world is nothing less than incredible,” he said.
A reshaped media landscape
If the Warner deal is finalised, Ellison would oversee an expansive portfolio including HBO, HGTV, Food Network and CNN, significantly expanding Skydance’s footprint across entertainment and news.The move also highlights shifting industry dynamics, with consolidation raising concerns among some executives about reduced competition. Squire said he was “no fan” of the takeover despite acknowledging Skydance’s remarkable trajectory.Warner Bros. enters the deal from a position of creative strength, having secured 30 Oscar nominations and a 21% domestic box-office share in 2025, compared with Paramount’s 6%.For Ellison, the transformation marks a striking reversal from the early days when the failure of Flyboys reportedly left him hospitalised with atrial fibrillation. Two decades later, the studio once dismissed as a vanity project now stands at the centre of Hollywood’s biggest power shift.“Hollywood has seen David-versus-Goliath moments before,” said Vikrant Mathur, co-founder of streaming company Future Today.
The extremely tense situation in the region due to the joint attacks of the US and Israel on Iran has increased investment interest in gold and silver.
According to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewelers Association, the price of gold per tola has increased by Rs 10,000 to Rs 550,562.
The price of 10 grams of gold in Pakistan has increased by Rs 8,574 to Rs 447,018.
Along with this, the price of gold in the global market has increased by $ 100 to $ 5,278 per ounce.
With an increase of Rs 388, the price of one tola of silver has reached Rs 9,862.
According to experts, due to the global economic situation and the increasing interest of investors in gold, price fluctuations are likely to continue.
Business
Gold Price Prediction For Monday: Iran-Israel War Boosts Safe-Haven Demand; Will Precious Metal Rise On March 2?
Last Updated:
Amid Iran-Israel war, analysts say gold and silver prices might see support on safe-haven demand as equities may remain volatile in coming week.
Gold Price Prediction For Monday, March 2.
Gold Price Prediction For Monday, March 2: Even as the Iran-Israel war has begun with missile exchanges on February 28, risk-off sentiment is spreading across global financial markets, pushing investors toward traditional safe-haven assets. Cryptocurrencies (which is the only market open during weekends) were the first to react, with Bitcoin falling nearly 5% to slip below the $64,000 mark after news of the conflict broke. Analysts say equities could remain volatile in the coming week as geopolitical uncertainty intensifies, a backdrop that historically supports gold prices.
Gold had already shown strong momentum ahead of the weekend. In the national capital, prices jumped Rs 1,800 to Rs 1,64,700 per 10 grams on Friday, according to the All India Sarafa Association, compared with Rs 1,62,900 per 10 grams in the previous session. The surge was driven by fresh buying from jewellers and stockists as investors positioned for global uncertainty.
Also Read: Nifty Prediction For Monday: Iran-Israel War Hits Market Sentiments; Gap-Down Likely On March 2
Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst – Commodities at HDFC Securities, said gold rose amid mixed global signals, “as markets weighed escalating US trade protectionism and persistent tensions in the Middle East against a steady dollar”. He added that geopolitical friction and tariff-related uncertainty continued to support safe-haven demand, although a stable dollar and reduced expectations of US Federal Reserve rate cuts capped sharper gains.
Silver, however, moved in the opposite direction domestically. The metal declined Rs 2,500, or nearly 1%, to Rs 2,68,000 per kilogram from Rs 2,70,500 per kg previously, according to the association. In global markets, spot silver gained 1.6% to USD 89.72 per ounce, while gold traded marginally lower at USD 5,172.17 per ounce.
Gold & Silver Price Prediction: Safe-Haven Demand May Strengthen
Nachiketa Sawrikar, fund manager at Artha Bharat Global Multiplier Fund, believes the geopolitical escalation could intensify flows into defensive assets like gold and silver.
“A USA and Israel attack on Iran would likely trigger broad selling of risky assets across both the developed and emerging markets. We would expect the ongoing rally in USA Treasuries, oil, gold, and silver to extend.”
Typically, this pattern is observed during geopolitical shocks, when investors reduce exposure to equities and rotate capital toward commodities like gold and silver and sovereign debt.
Bullion markets remain closed on weekends in India as well as globally.
Gold & Silver Outlook For March 2
With global markets likely to open the week reacting to war developments, gold and silver’s trajectory on Monday will largely depend on three factors: escalation or de-escalation headlines from the Middle East, movement in the US dollar, and bond-yield trends.
If tensions intensify, safe-haven demand could push bullion prices higher. However, any signs of diplomatic engagement or a sharp rise in the dollar could limit gains.
For now, the broader bias remains supportive for gold and silver, with geopolitical uncertainty reinforcing its traditional role as a hedge during periods of global instability.
Market participants are also turning their attention to key macro triggers. Investors will closely track US Producer Price Index data and commentary from Federal Open Market Committee officials, both of which could shape expectations for interest-rate policy and influence bullion’s near-term trajectory. “Speeches from several Federal Open Market Committee members will also be closely watched for further insights, which may provide fresh momentum for gold,” he said.
Iran-Israel War
The US and Israel launched a major attack on targets across Iran on Saturday, and US President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to “take over your government” — an extraordinary appeal that suggested the allies could be seeking to end of the country’s theocracy after decades of tensions.
The first strikes of the attack appeared to target the compound home to Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in downtown Tehran. It wasn’t immediately clear if he was there at the time. Smoke could be seen rising from the Iranian capital.
“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries,” Trump said in a video posted on social media that sought to justify the attacks. He urged Iranians to take cover during the strikes, but then: “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.” The attack quickly expanded beyond Iran. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it responded by launching a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, where a nationwide warning was issued as the military said it bring down Iranian fire.
Meanwhile, Bahrain said that a missile attack targeted the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to US Army Central. Explosions could be also be heard in Qatar.
Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and sirens sounded in Jordan.
The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, meanwhile, vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement from the Houthi leadership.
(With inputs from agencies)
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.
February 28, 2026, 16:26 IST
Read More
‘I’m hanging on by a thread’
From early flop to Hollywood heavyweight, Skydance eyes Warner Bros takeover after 20-year rise – The Times of India
This Laptop Cooling Pad Knocked 20 Degrees Off My Laptop’s CPU Temperature
-
Tech1 week agoA $10K Bounty Awaits Anyone Who Can Hack Ring Cameras to Stop Sharing Data With Amazon
-
Business1 week agoUS Top Court Blocks Trump’s Tariff Orders: Does It Mean Zero Duties For Indian Goods?
-
Fashion1 week agoICE cotton ticks higher on crude oil rally
-
Entertainment1 week agoThe White Lotus” creator Mike White reflects on his time on “Survivor
-
Politics7 days agoPakistan carries out precision strikes on seven militant hideouts in Afghanistan
-
Tech1 week agoDonald Trump Jr.’s Private DC Club Has Mysterious Ties to an Ex-Cop With a Controversial Past
-
Sports1 week agoBrett Favre blasts NFL for no longer appealing to ‘true’ fans: ‘There’s been a slight shift’
-
Business1 week agoEye-popping rise in one year: Betting on just gold and silver for long-term wealth creation? Think again! – The Times of India