Focus on the BIG picture.
Friday, Sep 19, 2025
Outside the box.
Larry Ellison Set to Control CNN, HBO, Warner Bros & More in Mega-Media Takeover
Paramount-Skydance deal backed by Oracle’s Larry Ellison could unite HBO, CNN, Warner Bros Studios, Paramount, CBS and DC under one media empire
Larry Ellison, Oracle’s billionaire co-founder, is poised to become one of America’s most powerful media moguls by acquiring Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) via his son David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance, which already owns Paramount Global.
The proposed acquisition, reportedly backed by the Ellison family, would bring together HBO, CNN, DC Studios, Warner Bros Pictures, CBS, MTV, and Paramount Pictures under a single roof.
Paramount Skydance is preparing a majority cash bid for WBD, targeting its full slate of assets—cable networks, film studios, streaming platforms—and not merely the studio wing.
The move comes just weeks after Paramount Global’s $8.4bn acquisition by Skydance was finalised.
The announcement triggered a sharp rise in WBD shares—nearly thirty percent—while Paramount Skydance stock also climbed.
Analysts say Ellison’s deep pockets and tech credentials give him a rare chance to reshape Hollywood’s old guard, with the streaming wars and cable decline putting legacy media under pressure.
Concerns over antitrust review are high.
Combining major news channels like CNN, premium content outlets like HBO, and powerful studios such as Warner Bros with Paramount’s existing CBS News and Paramount Pictures raises questions about media concentration and influence.
But Ellison’s experience at Oracle and recent political visibility may strengthen his hand.
If successful, the deal would position Ellison’s media empire as a rival to Netflix, Disney, and Amazon—not just as another content owner but a conglomerate that spans news, entertainment, premium TV, cinema, and streaming.
The stakes include not only box office hits and Emmy winners but also editorial influence over global news brands that shape public discourse.
The proposed acquisition, reportedly backed by the Ellison family, would bring together HBO, CNN, DC Studios, Warner Bros Pictures, CBS, MTV, and Paramount Pictures under a single roof.
Paramount Skydance is preparing a majority cash bid for WBD, targeting its full slate of assets—cable networks, film studios, streaming platforms—and not merely the studio wing.
The move comes just weeks after Paramount Global’s $8.4bn acquisition by Skydance was finalised.
The announcement triggered a sharp rise in WBD shares—nearly thirty percent—while Paramount Skydance stock also climbed.
Analysts say Ellison’s deep pockets and tech credentials give him a rare chance to reshape Hollywood’s old guard, with the streaming wars and cable decline putting legacy media under pressure.
Concerns over antitrust review are high.
Combining major news channels like CNN, premium content outlets like HBO, and powerful studios such as Warner Bros with Paramount’s existing CBS News and Paramount Pictures raises questions about media concentration and influence.
But Ellison’s experience at Oracle and recent political visibility may strengthen his hand.
If successful, the deal would position Ellison’s media empire as a rival to Netflix, Disney, and Amazon—not just as another content owner but a conglomerate that spans news, entertainment, premium TV, cinema, and streaming.
The stakes include not only box office hits and Emmy winners but also editorial influence over global news brands that shape public discourse.
