FT News Briefing Warner Bros tells Paramount to make an offer it can’t refuse
173 snips
Feb 18, 2026 
Martha Muir, U.S. energy correspondent covering offshore wind and policy, and Chris Grimes, LA bureau chief reporting on Hollywood and media deals. They dissect Warner Bros reopening a bidding fight with Paramount and what a sweeter offer might entail. They also cover US offshore wind’s legal comeback and the race to finish projects amid political pressure.
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Big Tech Play For AI Chips
- Meta's multibillion-dollar deal for NVIDIA chips signals deepening AI hardware competition between customers and suppliers.
- The pact reflects Meta's massive planned AI infrastructure spend and pressures NVIDIA amid rising rivals and in‑house builds.
Warner Bros' 'Put Up Or Shut Up' Ultimatum
- Warner Bros Discovery reopened talks with Paramount and gave it one week to make a best and final offer or step aside for Netflix's $83bn bid.
- The move forces Paramount to choose between escalating its hostile bid or negotiating under tight time pressure.
Paramount's Long Pursuit Of Warner Bros
- Chris Grimes recounts Paramount's repeated attempts to buy Warner Bros and Warner's prior rebuffs in favor of Netflix's offer.
- He describes Warner Bros reopening talks as an explicit challenge: 'put up or shut up.'