Desire Netflix signs $82.7 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Get approval from federal regulators?
While Paramount was considered the frontrunner to acquire the historic film studio due to CEO David Ellison’s ties to the Trump administration, new reports bloomberg And hollywood reporter There are suggestions that Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos met with President Donald Trump to discuss a potential deal in November.
Trump reportedly told Sarandos that Warner Bros. should sell to the highest bidder, and it seems the Netflix executive left the meeting confident that the president would not immediately oppose the acquisition.
Bloomberg also reported that Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav was reluctant to sell the company and was surprised when Paramount began exploring the possibility of an acquisition – if nothing else, he had expected Ellison to wait until the studio completed the planned divestment of the film and streaming businesses from its cable network.
Ultimately, Warner Bros. said it would consider other bids, triggering a competitive process in which Netflix won – though Paramount could still keep its hat in the ring with a hostile bid.
