Shareholders Approve Paramount Takeover Of Warner Bros. Discovery
Deal would combine HBO Max and Paramount+ and faces regulatory review, with companies expecting to close by September.
DeadlineDavid Zaslav Merger Payout Approved By Just 17% Of WBD Shareholders
MS NOWWarner Bros. shareholders green-light Paramount takeover
Business InsiderHere's what David Ellison told Paramount employees after WBD shareholders approved the merger
Straight Arrow NewsShareholders approve Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount deal as acquisition now heads to the DOJ
Overview
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted to approve a roughly $81 to $111 billion takeover by Paramount, the company said.
The merger would join Warner’s studios and HBO Max with Paramount’s assets, including Paramount+, CBS and Comedy Central, consolidating major film, streaming and news brands.
More than 4,000 industry workers and notable filmmakers oppose the deal, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his state is investigating the transaction.
Paramount pledged a 45-day theatrical window and a goal to release 30 films a year, but regulatory filings warn of cost cuts and only 17% of shareholders approved CEO David Zaslav’s merger-linked compensation.
U.S., European Union and UK regulators continue reviews, Paramount expects to close by September, and state attorneys general and labor groups are considering legal challenges.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the takeover as politically fraught and risky, emphasizing Ellison's ties to Trump and threats to CNN and creative jobs. They foreground protesters, celebrity signatories and Senator Warren's 'anti-trust disaster' line, while offering Paramount's pledge and a brief market comment, giving opponents greater prominence.