The Digester

Netflix bows out of Warner Bros. bid, Paramount set to win

Mar 10th 2026

Paramount Skydance's $31 per share offer beat Netflix's $27.75 bid, freeing Warner Bros. Discovery's board to pursue a full-company sale that would merge major studios and networks and raise antitrust and editorial concerns.

  • Paramount Skydance offered $31 per share, topping Netflix's $27.75 proposal.
  • Netflix declined to match Paramount's bid, saying the price made the deal no longer financially attractive.
  • Warner Bros. Discovery's board can now terminate the Netflix agreement and move forward with Paramount's merger agreement.
  • Paramount seeks the entire company including networks like CNN and CBS, while Netflix had targeted only Warner's studio and streaming assets.
  • A combined Paramount Skydance and Warner would bring together HBO Max and Paramount+ and could reshape Hollywood and news ownership.
  • Lawmakers, trade groups and critics warn the deal could mean job cuts, editorial shifts, reduced diversity in filmmaking, and higher costs for consumers.