As previously reported, Paramount has won its bidding war against streaming giant Netflix for the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Netflix withdrew its offer after Paramount presented a new bid of $31 per share.
According to Mike Johnson from PWInsider.com, sources indicate that AEW executives are not feeling any "doom and gloom" regarding WBD's merger with Paramount. The report also mentioned that AEW is looking forward to collaborating with Paramount.
The $110 billion merger deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and clearance from WBD shareholders. If Netflix had acquired WBD, it would have affected AEW's television rights deal, transferring rights to Discovery Local Networks while Netflix would have taken over streaming rights. However, with Paramount acquiring WBD, AEW's deal with Warner Bros. Discovery will continue to be managed under their umbrella.
