In a media landscape rapidly consolidating, Bank of America Research (BofA) analysts delivered a powerful declaration on December 7, 2025: “The throne is secured” for Netflix. This definitive statement followed Netflix’s (NFLX) announcement of a landmark deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s Studios and Streaming assets for an enterprise value of approximately $83 billion (equity value $72 billion). Just a day later, the plot thickened as jilted suitor Paramount launched an offer directly to WBD shareholders worth $30 per share in all cash, throwing the mega-merger’s outcome into some doubt.
BofA’s note underscores just why Paramount came back to the table, arguing that it would profoundly strengthen Netflix’s competitive moat and put Paramount and Comcast, the losers in the bidding process, at a “strategic disadvantage.” The note builds on previous analysis by Jessica Reif Ehrlich‘s team, that Netflix winning the bidding for Warner Bros. would be “killing three birds with one stone,” taking out one legacy Hollywood studio while neutralizing the other two as competitive threats.
The acquisition marks a strategic shift for Netflix, moving from primarily building its own content to purchasing large-scale intellectual property and studio assets, but Warner Bros. simply has a “crown-jewel IP portfolio,” BofA wrote. Combined with Netflix’s established global distribution and technology capabilities, this transaction “raises the barrier for other potential challengers,” essentially cementing Netflix’s dominance in the global streaming arena. From a financial perspective, BofA notes the deal is expected to be accretive to earnings per share by year two, with management projecting $2 billion-$3 billion in total cost synergies by year three.
For Netflix, the deal adds iconic content—essentially “Superman” joining the super app—while preserving key traditional revenue streams. BofA highlights the comments from Netflix executives that, despite industry fears to the contrary, they appear committed to preserving the theatrical release window, and intend to keep HBO Max operational. The continued operation of HBO Max is seen as a major opportunity, given that there are an estimated 200 million non-HBO Max subscribers within Netflix’s global base who could be offered HBO content in some form, presenting significant revenue synergy opportunities.
“In our view, this approach signals Netflix’s recognition of the value embedded in Warner Bros.’ distribution channels,” Ehrlich’s team wrote, as the combination of streaming scale from Netflix and traditional media monetization streams would be “ultimately creating THE media company of the future.”
The strategic disadvantage
For PSKY, BofA wrote that acquiring Warner Bros. was crucial for its ambitions to scale into a global media powerhouse from its “current limited asset portfolio.” For CMCSA, the logic was multi-faceted, including invigorating its streaming business globally, strengthening its IP, and positioning itself as a sort of Disney 2.0. With Netflix securing these assets, the attention immediately turned to the “Plan B” of the disenfranchised bidders.
Paramount Skydance soon came back to the table with its hostile, all-cash bid for all of WBD. Comcast has pulled out, with President (and future co-CEO) Mike Cavanagh saying on Monday that it had structured a deal with a mind toward not stressing its balance sheet, and it respected WBD’s decision to go in another direction. “I think we’re better for having taken a look,” Cavanagh said at UBS’ Global Media and Communications Conference. The former college rower said Comcast had “eyes in our own boat” going forward, arguing that it sees Peacock’s streaming losses narrowing over the next several years.
Should PSKY fail in this final bid to acquire WBD, BofA sees immense pressure on each gaining scale in streaming. Analysts noted the possibility of a theoretical combination between NBCUniversal (NBCU) and Paramount Skydance, which, despite structural hurdles, could create “meaningful scale” needed to compete globally against the combined NFLX/WBD entity and Walt Disney (DIS).
Ultimately, Netflix’s massive acquisition has fundamentally reshaped the competitive landscape, making it exponentially more difficult for competitors to catch up, yet simultaneously fueling one final, desperate struggle for scale among those left behind.
[Disclosure: The author worked at Netflix from June 2024 through July 2025.]
