Trending Now - Warner Bros. Discovery Shareholders Set to Decide on Paramount Deal

WHO:

CNN - Paramount CEO David Ellison stated, “Our goal is to build a leading media and entertainment company that strengthens competition, better serves the creative community, and delivers even more compelling stories to audiences around the world.”

CNN - Actress Jodie Sweetin expressed concerns about the merger, stating, “It is not a done deal.”

NY Post - Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted to approve the Paramount deal.

NY Post - Shareholders rejected WBD CEO David Zaslav's compensation package, which would have provided him between $550 million and $886 million.

Deadline - New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that the Paramount-WBD merger “must be stopped” and described it as “bad for New Yorkers three times over.”

CNN - Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) released a 13-minute video titled "Warner Bros-Paramount Merger, the Corporate Propaganda Monopoly: Ellison Media Cartel DEEP DIVE."

CNN - Paramount CEO David Ellison

CNN - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) CEO David Zaslav

CNN - Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos

CNN - Actress Jodie Sweetin

CNN - Alden Abbott, former FTC chief legal officer

CNN - Coalition of Democratic state attorneys general

CNN - European regulators, specifically the UK's Competition and Markets Authority

WHAT:

CNN - The deal includes a "ticking fee" that increases the price per share if not finalized by September 30th, 2026.

CNN - Paramount plans to release at least 30 new movies in theaters per year through both Paramount and Warner Bros. studios.

Newsweek - Paramount has successfully taken over Warner Bros., which includes CNN, after outbidding Netflix.

ABC News - The shareholder vote is scheduled for April 25th, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET.

ABC News - The deal is valued at $81 billion, with a total valuation of nearly $111 billion including debt.

ABC News - Thousands of actors, directors, writers, and other industry professionals have voiced “unequivocal opposition” to the deal.

CNN - Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described Paramount as an “irrational” bidder after Netflix declined to counter Paramount’s latest bid.

CNN - A coalition of state attorneys general is examining the deal's impact on the media marketplace.

CNN - The U.S. government is scrutinizing the financing behind the deal, which includes backing from sovereign investors in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar.

CNN - European regulators, specifically the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, are soliciting public comments and signaling a phase-one investigation into the merger.

ABC News - Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are set to vote on a proposed $81 billion sale to Paramount, which is valued at nearly $111 billion, including debt, based on Warner's current outstanding shares.

ABC News - Warner's board initially rebuffed Paramount’s overtures to strike a $72 billion studio and streaming deal with Netflix before ultimately accepting Paramount's bid.

ABC News - The merger would combine two of Hollywood’s remaining five legacy studios and join two major streaming platforms, Paramount+ and HBO Max.

ABC News - Paramount CEO David Ellison has pledged to release 30 movies a year between Paramount and Warner, which will remain stand-alone operations under a combined company.

ABC News - The U.S. Department of Justice will conduct ongoing regulatory reviews of the merger, and Warner expects to close the deal sometime in the third fiscal quarter of 2026.

CNN - Paramount prevailed in the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery in late February 2026 after Netflix declined to counter Paramount’s latest bid.

CNN - A coalition of state attorneys general is contemplating whether to challenge the Paramount-WBD deal on antitrust grounds.

CNN - Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are set to vote on a $110 billion acquisition bid from Paramount on April 25th, 2026.

CNN - Paramount's offer is $31 per share, compared to WBD's trading price of about $8 per share a year ago.

CNN - Thousands of entertainment workers have signed an open letter opposing the deal.

CNN - The deal includes a "ticking fee" that increases the price per share if not finalized by September 30th, 2026.

CNN - Paramount plans to release at least 30 new movies in theaters per year through both Paramount and Warner Bros. studios.

CNN - The deal is backed by sovereign investors from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar.

WHERE:

CNN - The special meeting for shareholders will take place on April 25th, 2026.

CNN - The dinner honoring the Trump White House and CBS White House correspondents will occur in Washington.

WHEN:

CNN - The shareholder vote is scheduled for April 25th, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET.

CNN - The deadline for finalizing the deal is September 30th, 2026.

ABC News - The shareholder vote took place on April 25th, 2026.

ABC News - The shareholder vote is scheduled for April 25th, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET.

CNN - The White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner is on April 30th, 2026, which Trump is attending for the first time as president.

CNN - The shareholder vote is scheduled for April 25th, 2026.

CNN - The deadline for finalizing the deal is September 30th, 2026.

CNN - The White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner is on April 30th, 2026.

WHY:

CNN - Critics argue that the merger could lead to job losses and fewer choices for filmmakers and moviegoers, raising concerns about the concentration of cultural power.

Deadline - New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that the merger “must be stopped” and described it as “bad for New Yorkers three times over.”

ABC News - Democratic Senator Cory Booker expressed concerns about the merger, stating, “What is at stake is clearly not just a corporate deal, but who controls news, who controls entertainment, who controls storytelling.”

CNN - Critics argue that the merger could lead to job losses and fewer choices for filmmakers and moviegoers, raising concerns about the concentration of cultural power.

ABC News - Critics argue that the merger could lead to job losses and fewer choices for filmmakers and moviegoers, raising concerns about the concentration of cultural power.

CNN - Opponents of the deal argue that further consolidation of the media industry will hurt creators and consumers.

CNN - The acquisition aims to create a leading media and entertainment company that strengthens competition and serves the creative community.

CNN - Opponents argue that further consolidation will harm creators and consumers.

HOW:

CNN - Paramount has indicated that the sovereign wealth funds backing the deal will not have governance rights in a future Paramount-Warner combination.

ABC News - Paramount has secured financing from several sovereign investment funds, including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as well as funds from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, although the exact amounts have not been publicly specified.

CNN - Paramount has indicated that the sovereign wealth funds backing the deal will not have governance rights in a future Paramount-Warner combination.

CNN - Analysts suggest that Paramount could make concessions to regulators, resulting in a relatively swift deal approval.

CNN - Paramount executives are confident in winning necessary approvals for the takeover.

CNN - The integration planning process between Paramount and WBD has begun, although they must operate separately for now.

CNN - Analysts suggest that Paramount may make concessions to regulators to expedite deal approval.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 19:19 UTC)

Paramount CEO David Ellison announced plans to create a leading media and entertainment company that aims to enhance competition and deliver compelling stories globally, while actress Jodie Sweetin raised concerns about the merger, stating it is "not a done deal." The shareholder vote for the merger is set for April 25th at 10 a.m. ET, with a deadline to finalize the deal by September 30th, and it includes a "ticking fee" that raises the price per share if not completed by that date. Critics worry that this merger could result in job losses and limit options for filmmakers and audiences, while Paramount has assured that the sovereign wealth funds supporting the deal will not have governance rights in the potential new company.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 17:22 UTC)

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders have voted to approve the Paramount deal, which successfully takes over Warner Bros., including CNN, after outbidding Netflix. However, they rejected CEO David Zaslav's compensation package, which would have provided him between $550 million and $886 million. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has expressed strong opposition to the merger, stating it “must be stopped” and calling it “bad for New Yorkers three times over.”

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 15:35 UTC)

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called for the halt of the Paramount-WBD merger, labeling it “bad for New Yorkers three times over.” The shareholder vote on this $81 billion deal, which has drawn widespread opposition from thousands in the entertainment industry, is set for April 25th, at 10 a.m. ET. Democratic Senator Cory Booker has also raised alarms about the implications of the merger, emphasizing that it goes beyond a corporate transaction to questions of who controls news and storytelling.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 13:23 UTC)

Paramount CEO David Ellison announced that the company aims to create a leading media and entertainment powerhouse that enhances competition and serves the creative community better. Meanwhile, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos labeled Paramount as an “irrational” bidder after Netflix chose not to counter Paramount’s latest offer, while a coalition of state attorneys general and European regulators are examining the potential impact of the merger on the media landscape. Critics are voicing concerns that this deal could result in job losses and limit choices for filmmakers and audiences, although Paramount has stated that the sovereign wealth funds involved will not have governance rights in the proposed merger with Warner.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 05:44 UTC)

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are preparing to vote on a proposed $81 billion sale to Paramount, which is valued at nearly $111 billion when including debt. This merger would unite two of Hollywood's remaining legacy studios and their streaming platforms, with Paramount CEO David Ellison promising to release 30 movies a year while keeping both companies as stand-alone operations. However, the U.S. Department of Justice is conducting regulatory reviews, and critics are voicing concerns about potential job losses and reduced choices for filmmakers and audiences.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 04:05 UTC)

Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey has released a 13-minute video titled "Warner Bros-Paramount Merger, the Corporate Propaganda Monopoly: Ellison Media Cartel DEEP DIVE," as discussions around the recent merger heat up. Paramount won the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery in late February after Netflix opted not to counter, but a coalition of state attorneys general is considering an antitrust challenge against the deal, as critics warn that it could harm both creators and consumers. Meanwhile, President Trump is set to attend the White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner April 30th, marking his first appearance at the event as president.

(UPDATED April 22, 2026 21:23 UTC)

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are set to vote on a $110 billion acquisition bid from Paramount April 25th, with Paramount offering $31 per share, a significant increase from WBD's trading price of about $8 per share a year ago. Thousands of entertainment workers have signed an open letter opposing the deal, which is backed by sovereign investors from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar, and includes a "ticking fee" that raises the price per share if not finalized by September 30th. The acquisition aims to create a leading media and entertainment company, but opponents argue that further consolidation could harm creators and consumers.