CEO of Paramount Skydance, David Ellison

After weeks of rejection and wait of 75 days, David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance has finally made a bid that Warner Bros. Discovery’s board is taking seriously. According to a report by Business Insider, WBD has told the shareholders that Paramount’s latest $31 per share offer ‘could reasonably be expected’ to lead a superior proposal as compared to the existing Netflix deal. This marks the first time in 75 days that Paramount has received encouraging feedback from Warner’s bard after 10 prior attempts. For those unaware, Netflix made an offer of $27.75 per share for WBD’s streaming and studio assets, including HBO. In case Warner’s board decided that Paramount’s bid is superior, then Netflix will have four days to sweeten its offer or risk losing its chance to acquire HBO which is said to be the cornerstone of its Hollywood ambitions.

Why Paramount’s offer stands out

Warner Bros dismissed the bids made by Paramount over concerns about financing and breakup fees. This time, Paramount secured a guarantee from billionaire Larry Ellison and agreed to reimburse Warner’s payout to Netflix if the board switches deals. That assurance helped patch holes that previously undermined its credibility.Netflix has pitched its deal as simpler and better for Hollywood jobs, while Paramount has promised $6 billion in savings if it wins. Warner’s board must weigh those competing visions, alongside regulatory uncertainty in the U.S. and abroad.

Trump re-enters the fray with ‘Susan Rice’ ultimatum

Meanwhile, the corporate bidding war took a political turn over the weekend as President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to demand that Netflix immediately fire board member Susan Rice, a former National Security Adviser under Barack Obama.“Netflix should fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences,” the President wrote, following a viral campaign by influencer Laura Loomer, who argued that a Netflix-Warner Bros merger would create a “WOKE streaming monopoly.”Trump added: “HER POWER IS GONE, AND WILL NEVER BE BACK. How much is she being paid, and for what???”The controversy centers on comments Rice made on a recent podcast, where she suggested that companies cooperating with the Trump administration might face “subpoenas” and “accountability” if Democrats return to power.“It would not end well. They are going to be caught with more than their pants down,” Rice said. She predicted Democrats would bring “an accountability agenda” and advised companies to “preserve their documents” and “be ready for subpoenas.”“If these corporations think that Democrats, when they come back in power, are going to play by the old rules… I think they’ve got another thing coming,” Rice added.Loomer questioned whether Netflix stands by a board member “threatening half of the country with weaponized government and political retribution.”