The Digester

Jake Tapper breaks on-air: Paramount Skydance poised to buy Warner Bros. Discovery

Feb 27th 2026

During Thursday's broadcast Jake Tapper announced that Warner Bros. Discovery's board has deemed a Paramount Skydance offer superior after Netflix declined to increase its bid, potentially making Paramount the presumptive buyer of WBD and its assets including CNN, pending regulatory approval.

  • Jake Tapper announced live that Warner Bros. Discovery's board says Paramount Skydance submitted a superior offer.
  • Netflix declined to raise its bid, clearing the way for Paramount pending regulatory approval.
  • Warner Bros. Discovery is the parent company of CNN, making the potential sale directly relevant to the network.
  • CNN analyst Brian Stelter said Netflix executives left White House meetings in a sour mood and suggested regulatory concerns may have influenced Netflix's decision.
  • Paramount CEO David Ellison has reportedly told the White House he would make sweeping changes if he acquired CNN and former President Trump has said CNN should be sold.

Sources

variety.com