Paramount CEO Addresses Warner Bros. Execs on Pending $111B Acquisition

Ellison says 'turbulent' deal process is 'now behind us,' praises HBO as 'gold standard' in TV

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, made his first formal appearance before Warner Bros. Discovery's senior executives, talking about Paramount's pending $111 billion deal for WBD and taking questions from the assemblage. Ellison spoke about the combined company's plans to produce 30 films per year, praised HBO as 'the gold standard in television,' and said the 'turbulent' M&A battle is 'now behind us'.

Why it matters

The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger would create one of the largest media conglomerates, combining major film and TV studios, streaming platforms, and news operations. Ellison's town hall address aimed to reassure WBD executives and address concerns about the deal's impact on jobs and operations.

The details

In his 10-minute opening remarks, Ellison reiterated plans for the combined company to produce 30 films per year (15 from each studio) and praised HBO as 'the gold standard in television.' He acknowledged the 'turbulent' M&A process that saw Paramount outbid Netflix for WBD, but said 'that part is now behind us.' During the Q&A, Ellison was asked about expected layoffs and the proposed HBO Max-Paramount+ streaming merger, though he said Paramount is limited in its ability to share specifics due to 'gun-jumping' restrictions.

  • The town hall meeting took place on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
  • Paramount expects the $111 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery to close in the third quarter of 2026.

The players

David Ellison

CEO of Paramount Skydance, who made his first formal appearance before Warner Bros. Discovery's senior executives to discuss Paramount's pending $111 billion deal for WBD.

David Zaslav

CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, who introduced Ellison at the town hall meeting.

Robert Gibbs

Head of communications at Warner Bros. Discovery, who moderated the Q&A session with Ellison.

Netflix

The streaming giant that had previously sealed a deal for WBD's studios and streaming operations, before Paramount came in with the winning bid.

Paramount Skydance

The company led by David Ellison that is acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery in a $111 billion deal.

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What’s next

Paramount expects the $111 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery to close in the third quarter of 2026.

The takeaway

The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger would create a media powerhouse, combining major film and TV studios, streaming platforms, and news operations. Ellison's town hall address aimed to reassure WBD executives and address concerns about the deal's impact, though he was limited in sharing specifics due to pre-merger restrictions.