Warner Bros shareholders have approved Paramount's $111 billion acquisition offer after months of delays.
On 23 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Warner Bros Discovery shareholders decided to approve Paramount's $111 billion (approximately 3.6 trillion baht) acquisition offer, ending a drawn-out saga lasting several months. Analysts view this outcome as potentially transformative for the media industry.
This acquisition deal will give Paramount, owned by Skydance, control over all Warner Bros film rights and channels, including Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and the CNN news network.
"We look forward to building an outstanding combined company with Paramount, which will expand consumer choices and benefit the global creative community," said Samuel DiPiazza, Warner Bros chairman.
However, the deal still requires approval from the U.S. Department of Justice and European competition regulators before it can take effect.
This latest development follows several messy months of attempts to acquire Warner Bros. Previously, Netflix submitted a bid but later withdrew after Paramount offered a higher price.
Paramount, aiming to elevate itself as a Hollywood giant, is backed by tech billionaire Larry Ellison, with his son David serving as the company chairman.
Nevertheless, David Ellison's impending control over Warner Bros has raised concerns due to his status as a major Republican donor and his scheduled hosting of a dinner with President Donald Trump at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., this Thursday.
It is expected that Mark Ruffalo, the actor who plays Hulk, will join protesters outside the building to oppose what they call a "gala of corruption," as the company still faces legal hurdles.
Protesters also worry about how the Ellison family's ownership of CNN might affect the news outlet's editorial direction, as CNN has traditionally leaned left and aligned with Democratic views, contrasting with the clearly right-leaning FOX News.
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Source:bbc