The Indicator from Planet Money Why Paramount went looney tunes for Warner Bros.
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Mar 3, 2026 
Dave Folkenflake, an NPR media reporter who covers big-studio maneuvers, profiles David Ellison and the $110 billion Paramount Skydance takeover attempt. He breaks down why Warner Bros. is so attractive. He explains the Ellisons’ financing, political links, and worries about newsroom and studio shakeups. He also outlines the unusual antitrust moves aimed at speeding regulatory approval.
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David Ellison's Ambition To Become A Hollywood Power
- David Ellison is a Hollywood insider turned acquirer aiming to scale by buying Warner Bros. Discovery.
- He used his father Larry Ellison's vast wealth and film-producing creds (Mission Impossible, Top Gun) to position Paramount Skydance for a megadeal.
Scale Motivates The $110 Billion Bid
- The deal is driven by scale: Warner is about five times Paramount's market value, so an acquisition would dramatically enlarge Ellison's media footprint.
- Larry Ellison pledged tens of billions and foreign investors (including Saudi and emirate funds) also back the bid, raising governance questions.
Deal Blurs Lines Between Media And Tech
- The Ellisons' other ties (Oracle, TikTok US stake) mean the acquisition isn't just movies but also data and consumer habit assets.
- That mix intensifies scrutiny because these are strategic technology and media intersections.