In reversal, Warner Bros. jilts Netflix for Paramount

Warner Bros. says Paramount's sweetened bid to buy the whole company is "superior" to an $83 billion deal it struck with Netflix for just its streaming services, studios, and intellectual property.

26 Feb, 22:43 — 26 Feb, 22:55

High (50/100)

5 sourcesNarrow spread2 regions

Post Share

Why this matters

This story is significant as it marks a major consolidation in the media industry, with Paramount acquiring Warner Bros. and Netflix losing out on key assets. It reflects the intense competition in the streaming and content production landscape, impacting future content availability and market dominance.

Perspective Analysis

AI-generated comparison of how 5 sources cover this story

All outlets report that Netflix has declined to raise its offer for Warner Bros., effectively ceding the acquisition to Paramount. The coverage is largely aligned on this outcome, with some outlets providing more specific details on the scope of the bids and the financial figures involved.

Political spectrum

LeftCenterRight

npr

variety

hollywood-reporter

deadline

channel-news-asia

Outlet rating This story

SourceOutletiGeneral editorial lean of the outletStoryiHow they covered this specific storyTone

NPRcenter-leftcenter-leftanalyticalfocuses on financial details and official statements

varietycenter-leftcenter-lefturgenthighlights corporate decision-making and industry impact

hollywood-reportercenter-leftcenter-leftsensationalemphasizes industry drama and competitive landscape

Coverage leans: center-left

The overall coverage leans center-left, primarily due to the known biases of the majority of the reporting outlets, which focus on corporate actions and industry implications.

What sources agree on

Netflix declined to raise its offer for Warner Bros.
Paramount is set to acquire Warner Bros.
The Warner Bros. board declared Paramount's new bid a "superior proposal".

Where they diverge

The scope of the acquisition bids

NPR

NPR specifies Paramount's bid was for the "whole company" while Netflix's was for "streaming services, studios, and intellectual property."

deadlinechannel-news-asiahollywood-reportervariety

These outlets generally refer to the acquisition target as "Warner Bros." or "Warner Bros. Discovery" without detailing the specific assets involved in each bid.

Key claims2 agreed · 2 unverified

✓

Netflix declined to raise its offer for Warner Bros.

agreed·deadlinechannel-news-asiahollywood-reportervarietyNPR

✓

The Warner Bros. board declared Paramount Skydance’s new bid a “superior proposal.”

agreed·varietyNPR

Coverage gaps

The specific financial value of Netflix's previous deal ($83 billion)

ReportedNPR

Missingdeadlinechannel-news-asiahollywood-reporter+1

The mention of David Zaslav as the leader of Warner Bros. Discovery

Reportedvariety

Missingdeadlinechannel-news-asiahollywood-reporter+1

Perspective Analysis

Comparing sources…

Story evolution

The narrative shifted from Netflix being the presumed acquirer to Paramount emerging as the winner after a "stunning twist" and a "reversal" in the bidding process.

Initial Netflix DealPrior to Feb 26

Warner Bros. initially struck a deal with Netflix for some of its assets.

Paramount's Superior BidFeb 26 evening

Paramount presented a sweetened bid that the Warner Bros. board deemed a "superior proposal."

Netflix DeclinesFeb 26 evening

Netflix officially declined to raise its offer to match Paramount's bid.

Paramount Set to WinFeb 26 evening

With Netflix out, Paramount is set to win the acquisition of Warner Bros.

How outlets covered this

Left-leaning

No articles

In reversal, Warner Bros. jilts Netflix for Paramount

Right-leaning

No articles

Key entities

Netflixstreaming service and former bidder Warner Bros.target of acquisition Paramountwinning bidder David Zaslavleader of Warner Bros. Discovery Paramount Skydancecombined bidding entity

Coverage Timeline

First report: NPR · 26 Feb, 22:43|Full coverage: All 5 sources within 12m|Window: 12m

Left-leaningCenterRight-leaning

NPR26 Feb, 22:43First to report

In reversal, Warner Bros. jilts Netflix for Paramount

variety26 Feb, 22:50

It’s Over: Netflix Declines to Raise Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

hollywood-reporter26 Feb, 22:50

Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

channel-news-asia26 Feb, 22:51

Netflix declines to raise offer for Warner Bros

deadline26 Feb, 22:55Latest update

Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.

Read at source (5 outlets)

deadline2h ago

Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.

Netflix has thrown in the towel and won’t be raising its offer for Warner Bros. to match a rival bid by Paramount. The giant streamer said: Netflix, Inc. today announced that it has declined to raise its offer for Warner Bros. Netflix had earlier received notice from Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) that its Board of […]

By jillg366

Read full article →

channel-news-asia2h ago

Netflix declines to raise offer for Warner Bros

Read full article →

hollywood-reporter2h ago

Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

It's a stunning twist.

By Alex Weprin

Read full article →

variety2h ago

It’s Over: Netflix Declines to Raise Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

Netflix has declined to increase its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery after the David Zaslav-led media company’s board declared Paramount Skydance’s new bid a “superior proposal.” Per a statement from the streamer, “Netflix, Inc. today announced that it has declined to raise its offer for Warner Bros. Netflix had earlier received notice from Warner Bros. […]

By Jennifer Maas

Read full article →

NPR2h ago

In reversal, Warner Bros. jilts Netflix for Paramount

Warner Bros. says Paramount's sweetened bid to buy the whole company is "superior" to an $83 billion deal it struck with Netflix for just its streaming services, studios, and intellectual property.

By David Folkenflik

Read full article →

In reversal, Warner Bros. jilts Netflix for Paramount

Why this matters

Perspective Analysis

Political spectrum

What sources agree on

Where they diverge

Key claims2 agreed · 2 unverified

Coverage gaps

Perspective Analysis

Story evolution

How outlets covered this

Left-leaning

Center

Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.

Netflix declines to raise offer for Warner Bros

Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

It’s Over: Netflix Declines to Raise Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

In reversal, Warner Bros. jilts Netflix for Paramount

Right-leaning

Key entities

Coverage Timeline

In reversal, Warner Bros. jilts Netflix for Paramount

It’s Over: Netflix Declines to Raise Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

Netflix declines to raise offer for Warner Bros

Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.

Read at source (5 outlets)

Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.

Netflix declines to raise offer for Warner Bros

Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win

It’s Over: Netflix Declines to Raise Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

In reversal, Warner Bros. jilts Netflix for Paramount

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Why this matters

Story evolution

Key entities

Perspective Analysis

Political spectrum

What sources agree on

Where they diverge

Key claims2 agreed · 2 unverified

Coverage gaps

Coverage matrix