News Summary

• Deadline is hearing the the situation is “status quo” regarding Skydance’s pursuit of the media company, which was first reported in Deadline in early December, and there’s a way to go in clinching a deal for the ultimate prize, Paramount Global..
• Rumors about a Paramount deal have heated up as the company’s financials are strained due to streaming losses, the ongoing decline of linear television and a weak ad market..
• By Jill Goldsmith Co-Business Editor David Ellison’s Skydance is said to have made a preliminary offer to buy Shari Redstone’s stake in National Amusements, the family holding company that controls Paramount Global, according to a Bloomberg report..
• Acquiring Redstone’s NAI stake would be cheaper than buying the entire company outright..
• Shari Redstone would receive a premium for her stake in NAI in that scenario, Paramount Global shareholders would not..
• The idea is that Ellison would merge Skydance and Paramount and look to divest the company’s other assets..