WBD Acquisition Thread

[JulianRO]

It had to happen because this merger is too disgusting.

 

[themidnightlore]

Dare I say, the fun actually started? Pass the popcorn, we're witnessing some action. (And may it end with Paramount coming out of this without WBD.)

 

[JulianRO]

We should expect long delays considering this lawsuit, and maybe this will also change, in a more or less way, the decisions the UK and the EU have to do regrading the merger.

Again, it has to be stopped. Period.

 

[powergate92]

Keep in mind, the Judge hasn't blocked the merger yet. Remember, Nexstar closed it acquisition of TEGNA the day after the States sued, with a Judge issuing a temporary "Hold Separate" order requiring TEGNA be operated as an independent subsidiary while that lawsuit plays out a week later (note: Nexstar is currently appealing the "Hold Separate" order). Paramount Skydance could do the same thing and close the acquisition of WBD tomorrow, despite the lawsuit, just to avoid the ticking fee and breakup fees later that they would have to pay otherwise.

 

[JulianRO]

They can't do it that easily as the EU and UK didn't yet gave the verdict.

 

[Moe]

Paramount Skydance could do the same thing and close the acquisition of WBD tomorrow, despite the lawsuit, just to avoid the ticking fee and breakup fees later that they would have to pay otherwise.

PSKY wouldn't able to close the acquisition with regulators ongoing in UK and EU.

The court could order PSKY to not close the merger when lawsuit is ongoing.

Nexstar has no control with Tegna - it is just Tegna executives and their shareholders are currently manage the company.

 

[powergate92]

PSKY wouldn't able to close the acquisition with regulators ongoing in UK and EU.

The court could order PSKY to not close the merger when lawsuit is ongoing.

Nexstar has no control with Tegna - it is just Tegna executives and their shareholders are currently manage the company.

Nexstar still owns TEGNA, although it is operated separately per court order. Still they closed the acquisition, they will not be paying a breakup fee if a court forces to spin off TEGNA later. TEGNA's website now has this message in the bottom on their website: "TEGNA Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), operating independently of Nexstar consistent with the “Hold Separate Order” issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California on April 17, 2026." Meanwhile, Nexstar has updated their website to add TEGNA TV Stations and Network to Nexstar's Stations and Network list pages with this note on the stations page: "
* Owned and operated by TEGNA Inc., a subsidiary of Nexstar.
* * Certain assets are separately held by TEGNA Inc. as a subsidiary of Nexstar."

Paramount Skydance could do something similar taking ownership of WBD while operating it separately just to avoid paying fees while the lawsuits play out. But we will have to wait and see how this all plays out.

 

[Moe]

Paramount Skydance could do something similar taking ownership of WBD while operating it separately just to avoid paying fees while the lawsuits play out. But we will have to wait and see how this all plays out.

WBD executives and their shareholders could sue PSKY if they close the merger too soon to avoid the ticking fees and breakup.

The judge could order PSKY to not close the merger that is one of option and it would be preferred options for state AGs.

Tegna is nice enough but WBD may be not.

 

[AetherOps]

I'm just worried the judges who overseeing the lawsuit could be Trump stooges.

 

[Moe]

I'm just worried the judges who overseeing the lawsuit could be Trump stooges.

It is hard to get Trump backed judges in Northern California and 9th district appeals court.

Also, none of judges at Northern California court is Trump appointed.

 

[PF9]

Somewhat related:

'A Nightmare on Elm Street' to return with new Paramount adaptation

Paramount has closed a deal for the U.S. rights to adapt the original screenplay for "A Nightmare on Elm Street," according to a press release.

abcnews.com

Paramount is planning a new Nightmare on Elm Street film. The preexisting films are owned by WB through New Line. If this merger goes through, would make this development more interesting.

 

[awinger24]

I'm just worried the judges who overseeing the lawsuit could be Trump stooges.

It is hard to get Trump backed judges in Northern California and 9th district appeals court.

Also, none of judges at Northern California court is Trump appointed.

You beat me to it. Don’t expect a September closure if the judge orders an injunction.

 

[Moe]

Somewhat related:

'A Nightmare on Elm Street' to return with new Paramount adaptation

Paramount has closed a deal for the U.S. rights to adapt the original screenplay for "A Nightmare on Elm Street," according to a press release.

abcnews.com

Paramount is planning a new Nightmare on Elm Street film. The preexisting films are owned by WB through New Line. If this merger goes through, would make this development more interesting.

That is result of decision made by Zaslav to save a lot of money.

WBD would normally make this movie.

 

[John Pannozzi]

That is result of decision made by Zaslav to save a lot of money.

WBD would normally make this movie.

WB/New Line will still have non-US distrubution rights to this.

Anyway, Prim-O from Rangerboard made perhaps some interesting points:

from https://www.rangerboard.com/index.php?threads/183155/post-6497917

Key word being could.

Given billionaires rule this nation harder than they ever ruled it before, I would be pretty shocked if they don't meet the deadline, or at the very least the deadline isn't magically "relaxed".

and from https://www.rangerboard.com/index.php?threads/183155/post-6497939

The only reason I think differently is because the merger isn't new, yet these lawsuits are.

If something is legitimately against the law, it's never announced because it can't happen. For Netflix to almost get Warner and then Paramount swoop in with even more money and get Warner and Paramount to even put out an announcement that they totally promise no one's getting fired despite the inherent redundancies of already owning every department you're buying, for NOW to be when the sale gets called off for legal reasons literally does not make any sense at all. It's the equivalent of a couple who are already married to other people getting engaged and booking the church and sending out the invitations and creating a registry and getting dressed up and standing at the altar before the state steps in and says they can't do that.

I'm always willing to be wrong, but like I said, I would be pretty shocked.

 

[RandomMe]

Somewhat related:

'A Nightmare on Elm Street' to return with new Paramount adaptation

Paramount has closed a deal for the U.S. rights to adapt the original screenplay for "A Nightmare on Elm Street," according to a press release.

abcnews.com

Paramount is planning a new Nightmare on Elm Street film. The preexisting films are owned by WB through New Line. If this merger goes through, would make this development more interesting.

An unexpected reunion (if not for a decision Zaslav took regarding the film)

 

[Camping My TV Set]

That is result of decision made by Zaslav to save a lot of money.

WBD would normally make this movie.

i was gonna say, this feels like a one-off thing similar to Rush Hour 4

 

[Elijah Abrams]

Anyway, Prim-O from Rangerboard made perhaps some interesting points:

from https://www.rangerboard.com/index.php?threads/183155/post-6497917


and from https://www.rangerboard.com/index.php?threads/183155/post-6497939

Feels like that guy doesn’t believe this lawsuit will succeed, because of billionaires and you-know-who.

 

[PF9]

WB/New Line will still have non-US distrubution rights to this.

i was gonna say, this feels like a one-off thing similar to Rush Hour 4

These would of course be moot points if the merger succeeds.

 

[lowell]

WBD executives and their shareholders could sue PSKY if they close the merger too soon to avoid the ticking fees and breakup.

The judge could order PSKY to not close the merger that is one of option and it would be preferred options for state AGs.

Tegna is nice enough but WBD may be not.

Speaking of that, Skydance refused to pause the pursuit so the legal proceedings can play out. The states ended up filing to seek both a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction:

States Seek Injunction to Prevent Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal From Closing

A coalition of 12 states asked a court to issue a restraining order to pause the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger while an antitrust case is heard.

variety.com

Also, Skydance's elevating their empty threat of moving Paramount Global's operations away from California:

"Alternatively, David could start playing hardball. On Sunday, Semafor reported that David’s “friends and advisors” had been encouraging the Paramount chief “to consider shifting his business out of the state.” The float was perceived by many media insiders as a mere bluff to deter the suit. But several sources close to David assured me that such drastic measures are not out of the question. After all, they reminded me, David’s father, Larry, relocated Oracle to Austin from Redwood City six years ago. “Let’s see how far [the A.G.s] want to take this,” one insider said.

Indeed, the entire premise of David’s pursuit of a media empire is that he intends to compete with the real players and won’t be moored by legacy. “Think about who’s in his ear, think about his dad,” one source who knows David told me. “David has spent his life surrounded by people who are thinking far beyond Hollywood.”"

https://puck.news/newsletter_content/the-cnn-cbs-news-omission-trumps-times-subpoenas/

 

[awinger24]

Paramount still plans to close WBD merger by end of September despite lawsuit

PSKY is still looking at closing the deal by September thinking the lawsuit has no effect.