Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) is reportedly in talks to merge with Paramount.
Sara Fischer of Axios reports that WBD CEO David Zaslav met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish at Paramount headquarters on December 19 to discuss the potential merger, and their meeting was said to have lasted several hours. Per Fischer, Zaslav has also spoken to Shari Redstone, who owns Paramount’s parent company, about a deal.
Additionally, Fisher wrote that Zaslav and Bakish discussed ways their companies could complement each other. Specifics about the potential merger are currently unclear.
Fischer also noted that WBD has hired bankers to explore the potential deal. Mergers often face a number of challenges at the regulatory level, but Fisher states that executives are confident the deal would receive approval. Fisher pointed out that WBD does not own a broadcast network, which could work in favor of a possible deal.
Plus, in the report, it is noted that a tax provision used to merge WarnerMedia and Discovery will expire in 2024. That would free WBD to look into another deal.
In the wrestling world, the potential merger looms large, a WBD is AEW’s main broadcast partner. AEW Dynamite, Collision, and Rampage air on TNT and TBS. AEW’s media rights are up in 2024. WWE has also reportedly met with WBD regarding RAW’s media rights.
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
