Trump framed his comments partly as an antitrust concern, saying he wants to be sure any deal is good for competition in streaming and news. But his remarks effectively put a thumb on the scale in a private takeover fight: Only Paramount\u2019s $108.4 billion all-cash hostile bid includes CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery\u2019s entire cable portfolio, while the already-announced Netflix deal would buy the studio and streaming businesses and leave CNN in a separate company. <\/p>\n
Regulators were already expected to closely scrutinize whichever proposal ultimately wins. Trump suggests that he will probably be \u201cinvolved in the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stephen Colbert weighs in<\/p>\n
On Tuesday\u2019s \u201cLate Show,\u201d Colbert joked<\/a> that Paramount\u2019s $108 billion offer proves his \u201cbeloved parent company\u201d can afford to keep his show on the air \u2014 a wink at CBS\u2019 decision to end \u201cThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert\u201d<\/a> in 2026. <\/p>\n \u201cIf my company\u2019s got that kind of green, I\u2019m sure they can afford to uncancel one of their best shows,\u201d Colbert said, before joking that he was talking about Queen Latifah\u2019s recently canceled CBS drama \u201cThe Equalizer.\u201d The studio audience erupted with the suggestion, forcing him to pause and ride out the cheers. <\/p>\n Colbert also zeroed in on how Paramount is financing its hostile bid. The company has lined up about $24 billion from sovereign wealth funds in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, along with backing from Jared Kushner\u2019s Affinity Partners, according to Reuters<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cTurns out Paramount got a little assist on the cash front,\u201d he said, adding: \u201cAnd when the dictator of Saudi Arabia gives you billions of dollars, I\u2019m sure there\u2019s no catch.\u201d He then imagined a future CBS comedy called \u201cYoung Mohammed bin Sheldon,\u201d combining the \u201cYoung Sheldon\u201d brand with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. <\/p>\n Speaking to Dazed<\/a>, director Guillermo del Toro \u2014 whose latest film, \u201cFrankenstein,\u201d was released earlier this year by Netflix \u2014 shared his thoughts, stressing the importance of the big screen, something that could be at risk if Netflix wins the bid.<\/p>\n \u201cHow they change entertainment is one thing. How they change the culture is another. I still believe it\u2019s important to have the option of experiencing movies theatrically. As to the rest? I think it\u2019s too early to even speculate. The deal will be real in 12 to 18 months, not right now.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Vulture<\/a>, del Toro earlier spoke about theatrical releases, and people watching movies on their phones, saying that \u201cit takes 38,000 of those little things to form a screen. There\u2019s no substitute.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Bloomberg<\/a>, James Gunn and Peter Safran \u2014 co-CEOs of DC Studios, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery \u2014 said that \u201cthe communal, theatrical experience is something that is incredibly important\u201d and that large corporate deals won\u2019t affect their plans on their scripts.<\/p>\n The Writers Guild of America weighed in on Dec. 5,<\/a> stating that Netflix\u2019s potential merger \u201cmust be blocked.\u201d <\/p>\n After Paramount put its name in the ring, a Writers Guild of America representative told Vulture<\/a>, \u201cThe problem is the acquisition and pending consolidation of two media giants, not who the buyer is. These companies should be focused on investing in their own businesses rather than wasting tens of billions to buy up the competition.\u201d<\/p>\n The Directors Guild of America told Deadline<\/a> that it would be meeting with Netflix to outline concerns. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/TIR3AYVGIFCQRG2I3423ONMI3E.jpg\")
A visitor walks past portraits of DC Comics superheroes as she enters the “Action and Magic Made Here” interactive experience at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood media preview on June 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. | Chris Pizzello, Invision via the Associated Press Filmmakers weigh in<\/p>\n