WBD’s 2026 Split Clears the Path
Before the merger can take effect, Warner Bros. Discovery will move forward with its plan to split into two publicly traded companies by the summer of 2026.
🔗 Related: Paramount Skydance Ups Breakup Fee – TechStory
Under this structure:
- Netflix will acquire the Warner Bros. half
- Discovery Global will house CNN and other cable networks
This two-company split was not originally designed for Netflix but now serves as a crucial step in finalizing the deal.
Surprise Upset: Netflix Outbids Paramount and Comcast
For weeks, Paramount was considered the frontrunner — even proposing a massive $5 billion breakup fee to secure its position. Netflix unexpectedly submitted two aggressive proposals that catapulted it ahead of both Paramount and Comcast. The company even matched Paramount’s costly breakup-fee terms.
Hollywood executives were stunned by Netflix’s boldness, with one insider describing the move as “the biggest plot twist in a decade of streaming wars.”
