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Dec 8 (Reuters) – Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a $108.4 billion deal for Warner Bros Discovery, throwing a wrench into the $72 billion deal with Netflix in a last-ditch effort to create a media powerhouse that would challenge the dominance of the streaming giant. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 8 (Reuters) – Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a $108.4 billion deal for Warner Bros Discovery, throwing a wrench into the $72 billion deal with Netflix in a last-ditch effort to create a media powerhouse that would challenge the dominance of the streaming giant. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 8 (Reuters) – Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a hostile bid worth $108.4 billion for Warner Bros Discovery, throwing a wrench into the deal with Netflix in a last-ditch effort to create a media powerhouse that would challenge the dominance of the streaming giant. The streaming giant had emerged victorious on Friday from a weeks-long bidding war with Paramount and Comcast, securing a $72 billion equity deal for Warner Bros Discovery's TV, film studios and streaming assets. The offer, which is worth $82.7 billion including debt and comes with a $5.8 billion break-up fee from Netflix, is likely to face strong antitrust scrutiny. Paramount submitted multiple offers starting in September to forge an entertainment powerhouse capable of challenging Netflix and tech giants such as Apple that have expanded into media but faced rejections. It has offered to buy the whole company at $30 per share, compared with Netflix's nearly $28 per share offer for its assets. Paramount remains one of Hollywood's major studios, but its box office record has been uneven, with occasional franchise wins offset by periods in which its slate has trailed Disney, Universal and Warner Bros in U.S. market share. It had sent a letter to Warner Bros, questioning the sale process and alleging the company has abandoned a fair bidding process and predetermined Netflix as the winner. That followed reports that Warner Bros' management called the Netflix deal a "slam dunk" while speaking negatively about Paramount's offer. Analysts and industry experts see Paramount as the best candidate for acquiring Warner Bros Discovery, given Ellison's deep pockets – backed by his father, Oracle co-founder and the world's second-richest person Larry Ellison and the close ties with the Trump administration. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday the Netflix-Warner Bros combo could raise market share concerns and he would have a say on the deal. Bloomberg News has reported Trump met Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos in mid-November, telling the executive Warner Bros should sell to the highest bidder. Netflix's bid has already drawn sharp criticism from bipartisan lawmakers and Hollywood unions on concerns that it could lead to job cuts as well as higher prices for consumers. The combined company will have substantial overlap and its combined streaming revenue would decline unless Netflix doubles its prices or runs separate platforms, neither of which the brokerage expects, Morningstar analysts have said. Looking to allay antitrust fears, Sarandos had said the deal would drive value for consumers, shareholders and talent, saying Netflix is "highly confident" in the regulatory process. Analysts said Netflix's motivation would stem from securing exclusive, long-term control over premium IP and reducing reliance on external studios as it expands into gaming, live entertainment and broader consumer ecosystems. Access to WBD's vast IP trove would provide immediate credibility, audience reach and merchandising potential for its gaming ambitions, an area where Netflix is still building original content and brand recognition. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 8 (Reuters) – Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a hostile bid worth $108.4 billion for Warner Bros Discovery, throwing a wrench into the deal with Netflix in a last-ditch effort to create a media powerhouse that would challenge the dominance of the streaming giant. The streaming giant had emerged victorious on Friday from a weeks-long bidding war with Paramount and Comcast, securing a $72 billion equity deal for Warner Bros Discovery's TV, film studios and streaming assets. The offer, which is worth $82.7 billion including debt and comes with a $5.8 billion break-up fee from Netflix, is likely to face strong antitrust scrutiny. Paramount submitted multiple offers starting in September to forge an entertainment powerhouse capable of challenging Netflix and tech giants such as Apple that have expanded into media but faced rejections. It has offered to buy the whole company at $30 per share, compared with Netflix's nearly $28 per share offer for its assets. Paramount remains one of Hollywood's major studios, but its box office record has been uneven, with occasional franchise wins offset by periods in which its slate has trailed Disney, Universal and Warner Bros in U.S. market share. It had sent a letter to Warner Bros, questioning the sale process and alleging the company has abandoned a fair bidding process and predetermined Netflix as the winner. That followed reports that Warner Bros' management called the Netflix deal a "slam dunk" while speaking negatively about Paramount's offer. Analysts and industry experts see Paramount as the best candidate for acquiring Warner Bros Discovery, given Ellison's deep pockets – backed by his father, Oracle co-founder and the world's second-richest person Larry Ellison and the close ties with the Trump administration. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday the Netflix-Warner Bros combo could raise market share concerns and he would have a say on the deal. Bloomberg News has reported Trump met Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos in mid-November, telling the executive Warner Bros should sell to the highest bidder. Netflix's bid has already drawn sharp criticism from bipartisan lawmakers and Hollywood unions on concerns that it could lead to job cuts as well as higher prices for consumers. The combined company will have substantial overlap and its combined streaming revenue would decline unless Netflix doubles its prices or runs separate platforms, neither of which the brokerage expects, Morningstar analysts have said. Looking to allay antitrust fears, Sarandos had said the deal would drive value for consumers, shareholders and talent, saying Netflix is "highly confident" in the regulatory process. Analysts said Netflix's motivation would stem from securing exclusive, long-term control over premium IP and reducing reliance on external studios as it expands into gaming, live entertainment and broader consumer ecosystems. Access to WBD's vast IP trove would provide immediate credibility, audience reach and merchandising potential for its gaming ambitions, an area where Netflix is still building original content and brand recognition. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Lisa Richwine and Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Dec 8 (Reuters) – Dark comedy "One Battle After Another" racked up a leading nine Golden Globe nominations on Monday, positioning the Leonardo DiCaprio thriller as an early favorite on Hollywood's road to the Academy Awards. The movie directed by Paul Thomas Anderson stars DiCaprio as a washed-up revolutionary who springs into action when his daughter's life is in danger. The Warner Bros film will compete in the best movie musical or comedy category against "Marty Supreme" and "Bugonia," among others.  Norwegian family drama "Sentimental Value" claimed eight nominations, just ahead of supernatural horror film "Sinners" with seven. Both were nominated for the movie drama prize alongside Guillermo del Toro's take on "Frankenstein" and "Hamnet," a story about the family of William Shakespeare. "'Frankenstein' is a film I have been wanting to make for as long as I can remember, and to have it embraced in this way means so much to me," del Toro said in a statement. Acting nominees included DiCaprio and "One Battle" co-stars Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn, Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor, who said the nominations left her "speechless and teary-eyed."  George Clooney and Adam Sandler received nods for "Jay Kelly," as did Dwayne Johnson for "The Smashing Machine" and Jessie Buckley for "Hamnet."  Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo earned nominations for their roles in "Wicked: For Good," though the second part of Universal Pictures' "The Wizard of Oz" prequel failed to make it into the musical or comedy field. The Globes are among first Hollywood accolades to be handed out before the film industry's top honors, the Oscars, in March. The Globes telecast is scheduled for Jan. 11. INTERNATIONAL FILMS RECOGNIZED Voters for the Globes are entertainment journalists from around the world. Their choices this year reflected their affection for films made outside of Hollywood, said Debra Birnbaum, editor of awards website Gold Derby. Beyond "Sentimental Value," they nominated revenge thriller "It Was Just an Accident" from Iranian director Jafar Panahi and Brazilian drama "The Secret Agent." "The biggest surprise over everything is the big showing for all the international films," Birnbaum said. "I think those are the films we're going to be watching, not just at the Golden Globes, but throughout all the film (awards) season." In a new podcast category, Globes voters nominated "Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard," "Call Her Daddy," "Good Hang with Amy Poehler," "The Mel Robbins Podcast," "Smartless" and National Public Radio's "Up First." HBO's vacation mystery "The White Lotus" led TV categories with six nominations, ahead of Netflix limited series "Adolescence" about a 13-year-old accused of murder.  Netflix, the streaming pioneer attempting to remake Hollywood by purchasing TV, film and streaming assets including HBO from Warner Bros Discovery, outpaced all networks with 22 nominations in television categories. Paramount Skydance made a hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery on Monday. Independent distributor Neon, the studio behind "Sentimental Value," "It Was Just an Accident" and "The Secret Agent," landed the most film nominations with 21.  Globe winners are chosen by more than 300 entertainment journalists, compared with roughly 9,000 voters who select the Oscars. The Globes voting body was expanded in recent years and organizers instituted reforms after criticisms for ethical lapses and a lack of diversity.     Comedian Nikki Glaser will return to host the Globes ceremony for a second time. The show will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Danielle Broadway;Editing by Bernadette Baum and Nick Zieminski)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

LOS ANGELES, Dec 8 (Reuters) – Dark comedy "One Battle After Another," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, topped the list of film nominees on Monday for Hollywood's Golden Globe awards, receiving nine nods. Norwegian family drama "Sentimental Value" claimed eight nominations. Acting nominees included DiCaprio for his role as a washed-up revolutionary in "One Battle After Another," Dwayne Johnson for "The Smashing Machine" and Jessie Buckley for "Hamnet." Winners will be chosen by entertainment journalists from around the world and announced at a Jan. 11 ceremony in Beverly Hills. (Reporting by Lisa RichwineEditing by Bernadette Baum and Nick Zieminski)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES, Dec 8 (Reuters) – Dark comedy "One Battle After Another," starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a washed-up revolutionary, topped the list of films nominated on Monday for Hollywood's Golden Globe awards with nine nods.    Norwegian family drama "Sentimental Value" claimed eight nominations followed by supernatural horror film "Sinners" with seven. "One Battle After Another," seen as a strong contender for best picture at the next Academy Awards, will compete at the Globes for best movie musical or comedy against "Marty Supreme," "Bugonia" and others. In the best movie drama field, "Sinners" and "Sentimental Value" will face off with Guillermo del Toro's take on "Frankenstein" and "Hamnet," a story about the family of William Shakespeare. Acting nominees included DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson for "The Smashing Machine" and Jessie Buckley for "Hamnet." In a new podcast category, Globes voters nominated "Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard," "Call Her Daddy," "Good Hang with Amy Poehler," "The Mel Robbins Podcast," "Smartless" and National Public Radio's "Up First." Winners will be chosen by more than 300 entertainment journalists from around the world and announced at a Jan. 11 ceremony in Beverly Hills. Comedian Nikki Glaser will return to host the Globes ceremony for a second time. The show will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. (Reporting by Lisa RichwineEditing by Bernadette Baum and Nick Zieminski)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Harshita Mary Varghese, Aditya Soni and Dawn Chmielewski Dec 8 (Reuters) – Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a hostile bid worth $108.4 billion for Warner Bros Discovery, in a last-ditch effort to outbid Netflix and create a media powerhouse that would challenge the dominance of the streaming giant. Netflix had emerged victorious on Friday from a weeks-long bidding war with Paramount and Comcast, securing a $72 billion equity deal for Warner Bros Discovery's TV, film studios and streaming assets. But Paramount's latest attempt means the jockeying for Warner Bros and its prized HBO and DC Comics assets will not come to a conclusion swiftly.  Netflix's offer comes with a $5.8 billion break-up fee and was likely to face strong antitrust scrutiny; U.S. President Donald Trump raised questions about the offer over the weekend. The bid has already drawn sharp criticism from bipartisan lawmakers and Hollywood unions on concerns that it could lead to job cuts as well as higher prices for consumers. TWISTS AND TURNS However, Paramount's bid could also face its own level of scrutiny. A Paramount-Warner Bros combination would boost its dominant position in the studio business that some also worry could lead to job losses as the industry rapidly consolidates. Reuters had already reported, citing sources familiar, that Paramount had raised its offer to $30 per share on Thursday for the entire company, but that the Warner Bros board had concerns about the financing.  "The Warner Bros Discovery acquisition is far from over. Netflix is in the driver's seat but there will be twists and turns before the finish line. Paramount will appeal to shareholders, regulators, and politicians to try to stymie Netflix. The battle could become prolonged," said Emarketer senior analyst Ross Benes. Paramount submitted multiple offers starting in September to forge an entertainment powerhouse capable of challenging Netflix and tech giants such as Apple that have expanded into media but faced rejections.  Paramount remains one of Hollywood's major studios, but its box office record has been uneven, with occasional franchise wins offset by periods in which its slate has trailed Disney, Universal and Warner Bros in U.S. market share. It had sent a letter to Warner Bros, questioning the sale process and alleging the company has abandoned a fair bidding process and predetermined Netflix as the winner.  That followed reports that Warner Bros' management called the Netflix deal a "slam dunk" while speaking negatively about Paramount's offer.  'BIAS AGAINST US' In an interview with CNBC on Monday, Paramount CEO David Ellison said there is an "inherent bias" against his company in the bidding. "We will be the largest investor in this deal. We're literally sitting here today because we are fighting for our shareholders, and we're also fighting for the shareholders of Warner Bros Discovery," Ellison said in an interview with CNBC. Some analysts and industry experts see Paramount as the best candidate for acquiring Warner Bros Discovery, given Ellison's deep pockets – backed by his father, Oracle co-founder and the world's second-richest person, Larry Ellison, who has close ties with the Trump administration. Bloomberg News has reported Trump met Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos in mid-November, telling the executive Warner Bros should sell to the highest bidder. The combined company will have substantial overlap and its combined streaming revenue would decline unless Netflix doubles its prices or runs separate platforms, neither of which the brokerage expects, Morningstar analysts have said.  Looking to allay antitrust fears, Sarandos had said the deal would drive value for consumers, shareholders and talent, saying Netflix is "highly confident" in the regulatory process.  Analysts said Netflix's motivation would stem from securing exclusive, long-term control over premium IP and reducing reliance on external studios as it expands into gaming, live entertainment and broader consumer ecosystems. Access to WBD's vast IP trove would provide immediate credibility, audience reach and merchandising potential for its gaming ambitions, an area where Netflix is still building original content and brand recognition. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Dec 5 (Reuters) – Paramount Skydance made a hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery in a deal valued at $108.4 billion, throwing a wrench into Netflix's $82.7 billion deal for the company's TV, film studios and streaming assets. Here's a timeline from the founding of Time Inc and Warner Bros to the company's latest breakup and potential sale. Date Event 1922 Time Inc was founded by Henry Luce and Briton Hadden to house Time magazine, a weekly news publication that made world affairs accessible to the average reader. The first issue of Time magazine was published in March 1923. 1923 Warner Bros was founded by brothers Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warner as a film studio in Hollywood. It revolutionized cinema with the introduction of synchronized sound in films. 1969  Kinney National Company, a conglomerate that later transitioned into media, buys Warner Bros-Seven Arts and later spins off its non-media businesses. 1972 HBO is founded by Charles Dolan with backing from Time. It was the first U.S. subscription-based cable network, offering uncut, commercial-free movies and live sports, pioneering premium cable television. 1990 Time Inc merges with Warner Communications in a $14 billion deal, hailed as a "marriage of content and distribution," creating Time Warner, then the largest media company in the world. 1996  Time Warner merges with Turner Broadcasting, gaining Cartoon Network, CNN, TNT and a vast classic film library. 2000  Time Warner merges with AOL, forming AOL Time Warner, the largest merger in history at the time, aiming to merge traditional and digital media. 2002 AOL Time Warner merger begins to unravel as AOL's value collapses with the launch of an SEC investigation, prompted by allegations of accounting irregularities and inflated revenue reports at AOL. 2003 CEO Steve Case resigns from AOL Time Warner. 2004 Time Warner sells Warner Music to a private equity group led by Edgar Bronfman Jr. for $2.6 billion. 2009 Time Warner fully spins off Time Warner Cable, which had already been partially separated in 2007, ending its role in cable distribution.  2009  Time Warner spins off AOL.  2013 Time Warner spins off Time, its magazine division, which includes Time, People, Fortune and Sports Illustrated, marking its formal exit from publishing. 2016 AT&T announces acquisition of Time Warner for $85 billion. 2018 AT&T completes its acquisition of Time Warner after regulator's approval, renaming it WarnerMedia. 2021 AT&T announces it would spin off WarnerMedia and merge it with Discovery Inc to create a new standalone media company. 2022 WarnerMedia and Discovery complete their merger in a $43 billion deal. June 2025 Warner Bros Discovery announces it would separate into two companies — one focusing on streaming and studios businesses, while the second will house its cable TV assets. October Warner Bros Discovery's board rejects a 2025 Paramount Skydance offer of nearly $60 billion, or $24 per share, a source familiar with the matter exclusively tells Reuters. The company says it is weighing a potential sale amid interest from several suitors. November Axios reports that Warner Bros Discovery's 2025 board wants Paramount Skydance to sweeten its bid to $30 per share, valuing the company at $74.34 billion. November Warner Bros Discovery receives preliminary 2025 buyout bids from Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix — who were asked to improve their offers.  December Warner Bros Discovery receives a second 2025 round of bids, including a mostly cash offer from Netflix. December Paramount Skydance accuses Warner Bros 2025 Discovery of running an unfair sale process that favors Netflix over other bidders, CNBC reports, citing a letter sent by the newly merged media company. December Netflix is in exclusive talks to 2025 buy Warner Bros Discovery's film and television studios along with its streaming assets after offering $28 per share. December Netflix agrees to buy Warner Bros 2025 Discovery's film and TV studios and streaming division for $72 billion, or $27.75 per share. December Paramount Skydance makes a hostile bid for 2025 Warner Bros Discovery in a deal valued at $108.4 billion or $30 per share. (Reporting by Kritika Lamba, Meghana Khare and Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Shinjini Ganguli and Leroy Leo)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Harshita Mary Varghese, Aditya Soni and Dawn Chmielewski Dec 8 (Reuters) – Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a hostile bid worth $108.4 billion for Warner Bros Discovery, in a last-ditch effort to outbid Netflix and create a media powerhouse that would challenge the dominance of the streaming giant. Netflix had emerged victorious on Friday from a weeks-long bidding war with Paramount and Comcast, securing a $72 billion equity deal for Warner Bros Discovery's TV, film studios and streaming assets. But Paramount's latest attempt means the jockeying for Warner Bros and its prized HBO and DC Comics assets will not come to a conclusion swiftly. The Warner Bros Discovery board of directors on Monday afternoon said it would review Paramount's offer, but is not modifying its recommendation with respect to Netflix. It advised the company to "take no action at this time" in regards to the Paramount Skydance proposal.  Paramount's $30-per-share cash offer includes financing from Affinity Partners, the investment firm run by Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, and several Middle Eastern government-run investment funds, and is backstopped by the Ellison family. Larry Ellison, the world's second-richest person, is the father of Paramount head David Ellison and has close ties to the White House.  The studio argues its bid for the entirety of Warner Bros Discovery is superior to Netflix, giving shareholders $18 billion more in cash and an easier path to regulatory approval. It also argued that a Paramount-Warner Bros combination, which would be among the largest media deals in history, would be in the best interest of the creative community, movie theaters and consumers, who would benefit from enhanced competition.  "We believe our offer will create a stronger Hollywood," Paramount CEO David Ellison said in a statement.   Paramount's bid includes Warner Bros Discovery's cable television properties; Netflix's bid is limited to the Warner Bros film and television studios, HBO and the HBO Max streaming service. Analysts noted that Paramount's offer comes with its own antitrust scrutiny as a consolidation of two major television operators. Last month, Democratic senators warned that such a transaction would result in "one company controlling almost everything Americans watch on TV." The combined studio would also have a greater market share than current leader Walt Disney Co, and add to fears of consolidation that have hit the industry hard in recent years.  The offer represents a 139% premium over the company's undisturbed stock price, and bests Netflix's $27.75 offer that mixes cash and stock. KUSHNER, SAUDIS PART OF PARAMOUNT OFFER Warner Bros Discovery and Netflix did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Paramount's deal. In a regulatory filing, Paramount said that the Ellison family, which owns Paramount, along with private equity firm RedBird Capital, had agreed to backstop $40.7 billion in equity capital. The offer also includes financing from Kushner's Affinity Partners, the Saudi and Qatari sovereign wealth funds, and L'imad Holding Co, owned by the government of Abu Dhabi. Netflix's offer comes with a $5.8 billion break-up fee and was likely to face strong antitrust scrutiny; U.S. President Donald Trump raised questions about the offer over the weekend. The bid has already drawn sharp criticism from bipartisan lawmakers and Hollywood unions over concerns that it could lead to job cuts as well as higher prices for consumers. "While it is perhaps a sad commentary on the U.S. that Paramount thinks its closeness to the occupant of the Oval Office will help it seal the deal, it is merely doing what it can to steal a march on its rival," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at UK-based IG Group.  Shares of Paramount were up 8% on Monday. Warner Bros Discovery rose 3%, while Netflix shares fell 4.7%. One company that appears to be out of the running is NBCUniversal parent Comcast, whose president Mike Cavanagh said the company was not interested in taking its balance sheet to "any stressful level" to buy Warner Bros. TWISTS AND TURNS Reuters had already reported, citing sources familiar, that Paramount had raised its offer to $30 per share on Thursday for the entire company, but that the Warner Bros board had concerns about the financing.  Paramount maintained that it would be a champion of Hollywood and its talent, would remain committed to releasing movies in theaters, and that its path to regulatory approval would be faster than Netflix's. "Our proposal is superior to Netflix's in every dimension, higher headline value, increased certainty in that value, greater regulatory certainty, and a pro-Hollywood, pro-consumer and pro-competition future," said Ellison. In its appeal to shareholders, Paramount said it submitted six proposals over the course of 12 weeks, but Warner Bros "never engaged meaningfully" with these proposals. "The Warner Bros Discovery acquisition is far from over," said eMarketer senior analyst Ross Benes. "Paramount will appeal to shareholders, regulators, and politicians to try to stymie Netflix. The battle could become prolonged." Paramount has argued the combination of its Paramount+ streaming service with Warner Bros' HBO Max would position it for growth, and create a meaningful competitor to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Walt Disney's Disney+.  'BIAS AGAINST US' The company said it had sent a letter to Warner Bros, questioning the sale process and alleging the company has abandoned a fair bidding process and predetermined Netflix as the winner.  That followed reports that Warner Bros' management called the Netflix deal a "slam dunk" while speaking negatively about Paramount's offer.  In an interview with CNBC on Monday, Paramount CEO David Ellison said there was an "inherent bias" in the bidding. Bloomberg News has reported Trump met Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos in mid-November, telling the executive Warner Bros should sell to the highest bidder. In his CNBC interview Monday, Ellison said he had "great conversations" with Trump, but did not characterize the discussions. Looking to allay antitrust fears, Sarandos had said the deal would drive value for consumers, shareholders and talent, saying Netflix is "highly confident" in the regulatory process.  (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles, Harshita Mary Varghese and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Milana Vinn and Jody Godoy in New York and Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gaffen, Arun Koyyur and Nick Zieminski)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)