Netflix came one step away from finalizing a historic agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery, according to The Wrap. Ted Sarandos's platform far surpassed Paramount's offer and today stands out as the strongest buyer.
If the deal goes through, it would mark a turning point in the industry. Netflix would become the most powerful player in streaming and would reshape the entire global audiovisual business.
An offer impossible to ignore
Netflix submitted an offer of 30 dollars per share to acquire Warner, well above the 20 dollars Paramount had offered. In addition, Netflix added a breakup fee of USD 5 billion, a huge incentive for David Zaslav's company.
Warner has been carrying a debt of nearly USD 40 billion since its merger with Discovery in 2022. For the company, this agreement appears as a real chance to "unlock the full value of its assets" and adjust its numbers in a complex moment.
The eye of regulatory authorities
The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the agreement to determine whether it could create a monopoly situation in the industry. Although there is a possibility it could be blocked, today everything indicates that the context favors Netflix after months of back and forth.
