Saudi-Led Consortiums Vie for Warner Bros. Discovery in Escalating Bidding War

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has become the focal point of a high-stakes acquisition battle, with Saudi-backed investment groups emerging as key players. Following Comcast's reported pursuit of Saudi financing for its bid, Paramount Skydance is now assembling a consortium that includes sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. RedBird Capital's participation suggests the offer could exceed $70 billion.

The proposed deal structure WOULD see Paramount contribute $50 billion, with Middle Eastern funds adding $7 billion each. While terms remain unclear regarding debt inclusion, the sovereign investors appear primarily interested in intellectual property rights and film production opportunities rather than operational control.

Market reaction was immediately positive, with WBD shares climbing over 3% in late Tuesday trading. This development underscores the growing influence of Middle Eastern capital in global media consolidation, while raising questions about content ownership in an era of state-backed entertainment investments.