Paramount's merger with Skydance and its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

22% left · 61% center · 17% right of 234 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 82 stories.

Every storyoldest first

1. January 2024

   Jan 31Byron Allen Makes $14B Offer to Buy Paramount Global10 articles · 8 independent sources

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2. April 2024

   Apr 19Sony In Talks To Team With Apollo In Bid For Paramount Global7 articles · 5 independent sources

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3. Apr 26– 30Paramount CEO Bob Bakish resigns amid merger talks41 articles · 25 independent sources

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4. May 2024

   May 2– 3Sony Pictures and private equity firm interested in buying Paramount for $26 billion, AP source says16 articles · 16 independent sources

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5. May 30– Jun 3Paramount and Skydance agree to terms of a merger deal11 articles · 9 independent sources

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6. June 2024

   Jun 11– 12Paramount Owner Shari Redstone Ends Merger Talks with David Ellison’s Skydance11 articles · 7 independent sources

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7. July 2024

   Jul 2– 3It looks like a deal between Paramount and Skydance is back on7 articles · 7 independent sources

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8. Jul 8– 10Paramount and Skydance are merging — here are 3 questions we have about the deal57 articles · 37 independent sources

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9. August 2024

   Aug 20– 22Paramount extends its Skydance go-shop period to consider acquisition bid from Edgar Bronfman15 articles · 9 independent sources

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10. Aug 27Edgar Bronfman Jr. dropped Paramount bid after running out of time to secure financing18 articles · 15 independent sources

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11. June 2025

    Jun 9Warner Bros. Discovery to split cable TV networks from streaming, Hollywood studios32 articles · 26 independent sources

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12. July 2025

    Jul 2‘South Park’ Creators Slam Proposed Paramount-Skydance Merger, Saying “It’s F***ing Up” Their Show6 articles · 6 independent sources

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13. Jul 23Skydance informs Trump’s FCC it will eliminate DEI at paramount, create CBS News ombudsman following merger10 articles · 10 independent sources

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14. Jul 24– 25FCC clears way for $8 billion Paramount-Skydance merger58 articles · 37 independent sources

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15. Jul 28Warner Bros. Discovery announces post-split companies will be ‘Warner Bros.' and ‘Discovery Global'7 articles · 7 independent sources

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16. August 2025

    Aug 5– 7Paramount Skydance Merger Finally Closes7 articles · 6 independent sources

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17. September 2025

    Sep 11– 12Paramount Skydance prepping bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery: report22 articles · 18 independent sources

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18. October 2025

    Oct 21Warner Bros. Discovery signals it may be open to a sale, says it has received interest from "multiple parties"17 articles · 17 independent sources

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19. Oct 27– 29Paramount Layoffs Begin; CEO David Ellison Says Cuts Are Key To Building “Strong, Future-Focused Company”26 articles · 17 independent sources

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20. November 2025

    Nov 20– 21Paramount, Netflix & Comcast Submit Warner Bros Discovery Bids8 articles · 7 independent sources

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21. December 2025

    Dec 4Paramount Calls WBD Sale Process "Tilted And Unfair" In Letter To CEO David Zaslav5 articles · 5 independent sources

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22. Dec 5– 6Netflix to buy Warner Bros. in $83 billion deal to create a streaming giant123 articles · 69 independent sources

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23. Dec 5Netflix breaks down how its approach to movie theaters will (and will not) change when it buys Warner Bros.6 articles · 4 independent sources

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24. Dec 6– 8Trump says Netflix deal to buy Warner Bros. 'could be a problem' because of size of market share38 articles · 26 independent sources

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25. Dec 8– 9Paramount's hostile bid on Warner Bros82 articles · 46 independent sources

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26. Dec 8Donald Trump Praises Ted Sarandos But Says Netflix-WBD Would Have "Very Big Market Share" In Streaming7 articles · 6 independent sources

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27. Dec 9– 11Trump says Warner Bros. deal should include sale of CNN19 articles · 13 independent sources

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28. Dec 17Jared Kushner’s firm exits takeover battle for Warner Bros Discovery17 articles · 13 independent sources

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29. Dec 17– 18Warner Bros. urges shareholders to reject hostile Paramount offer52 articles · 31 independent sources

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30. Dec 22Paramount’s new, hostile offer to Warner Bros. Discovery: Larry Ellison will personally guarantee $40 billion29 articles · 22 independent sources

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31. January 2026

    Jan 7– 8Warner Bros rejects Paramount takeover again and tells shareholders to stick with Netflix bid44 articles · 31 independent sources

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32. Jan 12– 15Judge Rejects Paramount Skydance’s Motion to Expedite Warner Bros. Discovery Trial Seeking Details on Netflix Deal7 articles · 4 independent sources

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33. Jan 12Paramount files lawsuit in pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery and threatens proxy fight11 articles · 11 independent sources

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34. Jan 20– 21Netflix intensifies bid for Warner Bros making its $72 billion offer all cash - Boston News, Weather, Sports37 articles · 25 independent sources

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35. Jan 22Paramount pushes the deadline to approve its offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery5 articles · 4 independent sources

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36. February 2026

    Feb 5Trump says he'll stay out of the Netflix-Paramount fight over Warner Bros.5 articles · 5 independent sources

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37. Feb 10Paramount sweetens hostile bid to stop Netflix-Warner Bros. deal5 articles · 5 independent sources

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38. Feb 16– 17Warner Bros reopens takeover talks with Paramount after receiving a waiver from Netflix28 articles · 21 independent sources

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39. Feb 24Warner Bros. gets new offer from Paramount in heated fight for storied studio8 articles · 5 independent sources

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40. Feb 24– 27Warner Bros. agrees to be acquired by Paramount in $110 billion deal, reports say23 articles · 17 independent sources

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41. Feb 24Warner Bros. Discovery Confirms Paramount Sent Revised Bid, but Doesn’t Divulge New Terms5 articles · 5 independent sources

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42. Feb 24– 27Netflix backs out of Warner Bros bidding war after Paramount made 'superior' offer96 articles · 44 independent sources

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43. March 2026

    Mar 2– 3HBO Max & Paramount+ to combine into one streaming service22 articles · 16 independent sources

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44. Mar 5David Ellison Vows CNN Will Operate Independently as Paramount Buys Warner Bros.: ‘We Want to Be in the Truth Business’7 articles · 7 independent sources

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45. Mar 16– 17Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav in line for $700m payout from Paramount deal6 articles · 5 independent sources

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46. April 2026

    Apr 23Warner Bros shareholders approve Paramount's $81 billion takeover of the Hollywood giant37 articles · 29 independent sources

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47. June 2026

    Jun 10EU investigates Paramount-WBD merger for Middle Eastern investment5 articles · 4 independent sources

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48. Jun 12– 13DOJ signs off on Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery29 articles · 20 independent sources

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49. July 2026

    Jul 8– 11Oregon D.A. Drops Motion to Delay Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger6 articles · 3 independent sources

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50. Jul 9– 15Union sues to stop $110B Paramount-Warner Bros. merger17 articles · 13 independent sources

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51. Jul 12– 1512 states sue to block merger between Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery53 articles · 44 independent sources

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52. Jul 13– 1412 states challenge Paramount's takeover of Warner, say merger would 'extinguish competition'30 articles · 24 independent sources

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53. Jul 14– 17Judge plans to rule next week on Paramount, Warner Bros.8 articles · 7 independent sources

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54. Jul 14– 20Judge orders pause on Paramount-Warner merger after challenge from 12 states19 articles · 17 independent sources

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55. Jul 14– 15Writers Guild of America seeks to block Paramount’s buyout of Warner in latest merger challenge12 articles · 12 independent sources

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56. Jul 16– 17California AG Rob Bonta says a CNN spin-off wouldn’t resolve Paramount–WBD lawsuit9 articles · 9 independent sources

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57. Jul 16– 22Judge Temporarily Blocks Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery 'Megamerger'28 articles · 24 independent sources

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58. Jul 19States fear Paramount-Warner deal will squeeze local movie theaters6 articles · 1 independent sources

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59. Jul 20– 21Judge says Paramount and Warner must halt merger for at least two weeks, granting states' request36 articles · 31 independent sources

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60. Jul 20Paramount–WBD merger on pause as judge issues temporary restraining order11 articles · 11 independent sources

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61. Jul 21– 26Paramount agrees to pause merger during California court case26 articles · 22 independent sources

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62. Jul 22– 23European Union gives its greenlight to Paramount and Warner's mega merger with some conditions26 articles · 23 independent sources

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63. Jul 24– 25Paramount delays closing Warner buyout while judge considers states' challenge7 articles · 5 independent sources

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64. Jul 24Paramount agrees to delay closing its Warner Bros buyout for months while judge considers challenge13 articles · 4 independent sources

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65. August 2026

    Aug 4Ellison defends Paramount merger, argues he can 'be trusted as a steward of CNN’22 articles · 19 independent sources

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66. Aug 4– 6UK won't intervene in Paramount's $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery36 articles · 29 independent sources

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67. Aug 9– 14If Paramount Leaves California, It Might Cut Costs but Wouldn’t Save on State Taxes20 articles · 15 independent sources

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68. Aug 10– 14Hollywood unions split: DGA, IATSE seek settlement while WGA fights to block Paramount-Warner merger4 articles · 3 independent sources

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69. Aug 12– 13Mary McNamara: David Ellison made himself the best argument for blocking the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal3 articles · 2 independent sources

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70. Aug 13Powerful Hollywood unions issue urgent warning over California’s war with Paramount3 articles · 3 independent sources

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71. Aug 14– 19Paramount wants a $1.9 billion bond from state AGs fighting the Warner Bros. merger20 articles · 18 independent sources

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72. Aug 18– 19Top three movie theater chains urge California to settle Paramount lawsuit in win for David Ellison7 articles · 6 independent sources

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73. Aug 19– 21Proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. merger risks 4,500 LA film and TV jobs, report warns8 articles · 8 independent sources

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74. Aug 20– 21L.A. Mayor Karen Bass on ongoing dispute over Paramount-WBD merger5 articles · 5 independent sources

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75. Aug 22– 25California AG calls off Paramount settlement talks, accuses company of ‘playing games’33 articles · 25 independent sources

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76. September 2026

    Sep 16– 23States settle lawsuit over Paramount-Warner merger, clearing key hurdle for $81 billion deal190 articles · 94 independent sources

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77. Sep 17– 18FCC grants Paramount’s indirect ownership request for Gulf funds in Warner Bros. Discovery buyout12 articles · 12 independent sources

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78. Sep 20Mark Ruffalo urges California AG Rob Bonta not to 'cave' in Paramount-Warner Bros. merger fight5 articles · 5 independent sources

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79. Sep 21Paramount reaches deal with California, other states over Warner Bros. Discovery merger3 articles · 1 independent sources

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80. Sep 22– 24Paramount to Raise $7.5 Billion More in Debt to Fund Warner Bros. Deal7 articles · 5 independent sources

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81. Sep 22– 23CNN Mood ‘Like a Funeral’ as Paramount’s Warner Bros. Win Casts New Haze on Next Steps5 articles · 5 independent sources

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82. Sep 23– 25Elon Musk Could Gain a Stake in CNN and CBS. A Media Scholar Says the Biggest Risk Isn’t Direct Control9 articles · 9 independent sources

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