"Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos spent the morning at the White House. By evening, his company had issued a statement declining to match Paramount's $31-per-share bid for WBD—walking away from what would have been the most transformative media deal in years and handing David Ellison a portfolio that includes CNN, HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, CBS News, and a cable library stretching from Seinfeld to Batman."
"The press freedom story of the week is quieter but no less significant: the Trump administration is pushing to break the editorial firewall at U.S.-funded international broadcasters."
"Inside CNN, staffers are reportedly panicking. Outside it, the chattering class is split between alarm, dark humor, and long-game skepticism."
Netflix declined to match Paramount's $31-per-share bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, ceding control of a major media conglomerate to David Ellison's Paramount. The acquisition grants Paramount ownership of CNN, HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, CBS News, and extensive cable content libraries. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos visited the White House before the decision, characterizing the deal as desirable only at the right price rather than essential. The transaction has sparked significant concern among media critics regarding editorial independence and press freedom under new ownership. Simultaneously, the Trump administration is pressuring U.S.-funded international broadcasters to eliminate editorial firewalls, while the Washington Post continues experiencing substantial financial losses exceeding $100 million annually.
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