Hollywood
Warner Bros considers reviving sale talks with Paramount, Bloomberg reports
Board debates rival paths as ticking fees raise stakes for shareholders
NEW YORK: Warner Bros Discovery is weighing whether to reopen sale talks with Paramount Skydance, after the rival suitor sweetened its hostile bid, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Board members are debating whether Paramount could deliver a superior outcome for shareholders, though no decision has been taken and the company may yet stick with its existing deal with Netflix, the report said.
Paramount last week enhanced its proposal by offering a 25-cent-per-share quarterly “ticking fee” in cash from 2027 until the deal closes, worth roughly $650 million, and agreed to shoulder Warner Bros’ $2.8 billion breakup fee should it walk away from Netflix. The bidder, however, did not lift its $30-per-share offer, valuing the transaction at $108.4 billion including debt.
Both Netflix and Paramount are chasing Warner Bros for its film and television studios, vast content library and franchises spanning Game of Thrones, Harry Potter and DC Comics’ Batman and Superman.
Pressure on the board has intensified after activist investor Ancora Holdings, which holds a near-$200 million stake, said it would oppose the Netflix deal, arguing directors failed to engage seriously with Paramount’s rival proposal, which includes cable assets such as CNN and TNT.
Hollywood
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs in major restructuring drive
Layoffs span ESPN, studios and tech as company pivots to growth
MUMBAI: The magic isn’t disappearing but it is being reorganised. The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to cut around 1,000 jobs as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at sharpening its edge in an increasingly unpredictable entertainment landscape. The move, led by CEO Josh D’Amaro, reflects a broader internal reset as the company rethinks how it operates, allocates resources and competes in a fast-evolving industry. In a memo to employees, D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but framed it as a necessary step to ensure Disney remains “efficient, innovative, and responsive” to rapid shifts in consumer behaviour and technology.
The layoffs will span multiple divisions, including marketing, film and television studios, ESPN, technology teams and corporate functions. Notifications have already begun, signalling that the restructuring is not a distant plan but an active transition underway.
Importantly, the company has clarified that the cuts are not performance-driven. Instead, they form part of a wider transformation strategy aimed at building a leaner, more agile organisation, one better equipped to respond to streaming dynamics, digital disruption and evolving audience expectations.
The timing is telling. The global entertainment industry is in the middle of a structural shift, with traditional television revenues under pressure and box office returns becoming increasingly volatile. Meanwhile, streaming platforms and digital-first competitors continue to redraw the rules of engagement, forcing legacy players to rethink scale, speed and storytelling formats.
For Disney, long synonymous with blockbuster franchises and timeless storytelling, the pivot is both strategic and symbolic. The company is doubling down on technology, direct-to-consumer services and content ecosystems that align with modern viewing habits, where audiences expect immediacy, personalisation and cross-platform experiences.
Even as the restructuring unfolds, D’Amaro struck a note of optimism, reiterating Disney’s commitment to creativity and long-term growth. Support measures for affected employees are expected as part of the transition, though details remain limited.
In essence, this is less about cutting back and more about reshaping forward. As Disney redraws its organisational map, the message is clear, in today’s entertainment world, even the most magical kingdoms must evolve or risk being left behind.
