After the final legal hurdles to its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery were cleared away, Paramount Skydance announced it would henceforth be known as Skydance.
That was one of the final steps before now-Skydance CEO David Ellison could finally make his vision of building an unprecedented media empire that controls nearly a third of television and film markets a reality. Today (Oct. 6), Ellison’s $111 billion dollar acquisition of WBD is complete — and while it’s not a headline anywhere but here,
that means Skydance now owns a <10% stake in All Elite Wrestling.
Skydance also assumes AEW’s media rights deals with now-Skydance properties TBS, TNT, and HBO Max (that last one will merge with Paramount+ at some point), which is why AEW president Tony Khan has been talking up his admiration for Ellison in his typical effusive style.
We’ll see what happens with AEW’s TV and streaming deal when it expires at the end of 2027… will Skydance pick up the option for 2028? Could the partnership continue farther into the future? Does any of that depend on WBD-now-Skydance’s minority ownership stake?
Mull those over while you swim in the business-speak of this press release, which makes no mention of AEW (or WWE’s fellow TKO brand UFC, which has a contract with Paramount and CBS):
Paramount Completes Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Creating a New Global Entertainment Leader, Skydance
• The combination builds on the storied history of two of the world’s most recognizable entertainment companies, forming a single creative powerhouse.
• The combined company, Skydance, brings together two major film studios, two global streaming services, premier television assets including CBS, HBO, and Paramount’s and WBD’s cable networks, two of the industry’s most recognized news networks, CBS News and CNN, and a leading content portfolio that includes live sports, a deep programming library and expansive collection of iconic brands and franchises.
• Together, Paramount and WBD will deliver enhanced output commitments, including a minimum of 30 high-quality theatrical films per year and 180+ television shows and series.
• Skydance aims to build the next-generation global media and entertainment company powered by creativity and technology. We are creative-first, audience focused, tech-forward, globally scaled.
Storytelling anchors the combined company’s growth strategy – expanding opportunities for the world’s leading creative talent and widening choice for consumers across every entertainment vertical.• Disciplined execution and an owner-operator model underpin the strategy, targeting at least $6 billion in run-rate synergies within three years.
LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Skydance Corporation (f/k/a Paramount Skydance Corporation) (NYSE: SKYD) (“Paramount”) today announced the completion of its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBD) (“WBD”), creating a combined company, named “Skydance.” The company brings together two major film studios, two global streaming services, a premier television portfolio including CBS, HBO, and Paramount’s and WBD’s cable networks, two of the industry’s most recognized news networks, CBS News and CNN, and a portfolio of live sports including CBS Sports and TNT Sports, as well as a deep programming library and expansive collection of brands and franchises. The transaction closed following receipt of all required regulatory approvals under the merger agreement and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Skydance Class B shares will begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the new ticker symbol “SKYD.”
Under the terms of the agreement, WBD shareholders received an amount in cash equal to $31.01666668 per share. WBD shares have ceased trading on NASDAQ, effective today.
The completed transaction unites two of media and entertainment’s most storied companies, each with a history spanning more than a century, giving the combined business a rare legacy to build on. The aim of the combined company is to build the next-generation global media and entertainment company powered by creativity and technology.
Storytelling will drive the combined company’s growth, bringing creative visions to life for audiences in more than 200 countries and territories and creating greater opportunities for workers across the entertainment industry. Skydance starts from a position of strength: the most diverse film and television library of any studio, the largest theatrical output in the industry, 200+ million streaming subscribers across platforms, an iconic broadcast network, an unmatched sports portfolio, and a franchise portfolio spanning Top Gun and Harry Potter to White Lotus and SpongeBob SquarePants. From this foundation, Skydance is committed to delivering for the creative community and consumers, with at least 30 theatrical films annually, each with a minimum 45-day theatrical window, and already boasts 180+ television shows. Across TV and streaming, Skydance will also continue to support the independent production sector by commissioning content from independent studios and licensing its own content to third parties, creating more opportunities and more jobs for creatives, both in front of and behind the camera.
David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Skydance, said: “Today is a historic day, not just for Skydance but for our entire industry. From the start, our ambition was to bring these two storied studios together and create a stronger competitor, with the talent, resources, and reach to tell great stories in every genre, on every platform, for audiences everywhere. Now that ambition is a reality. We’re grateful to everyone who made this possible – the employees, creative talent, and production teams of both companies, who worked tirelessly to get us here and inspire audiences around the world every day, as well as the advisors and partners who guided this transaction to completion. Our focus now turns to the future: building a company that empowers creatives, entertains audiences and rewards shareholders. We couldn’t be more excited to get to work.”
Gerry Cardinale, Founder and Managing Partner of RedBird Capital and a Skydance Board Director, said: “This is a defining moment for the industry. By applying our owner-operator model to Paramount and WBD’s unmatched portfolio of iconic franchises, premium original programming, and live sports rights, we can protect that legacy while building for a media landscape that’s undergoing transformational change. David, our Co-CEO Ynon Kreiz, and the rest of our world-class Skydance team have the vision and track record to lead through this change. We’re proud to back them as we build a stronger Hollywood, expand opportunities for talent, and create long-term value for our shareholders.”
At the same time, consumers can expect greater innovation from a company built with technology at its core, including significant improvements to its direct-to-consumer streaming products, which will unify into a single service over time.
The transaction received unanimous approval from competition authorities covering nearly 70 jurisdictions worldwide, reflecting recognition of the deal’s pro-competitive nature and the benefits it brings to consumers and creatives alike. The combination will strengthen competition and expand consumer choice, both on Skydance’s own platforms and across the broader industry.
The combined company is built on a strong financial foundation that positions it to capitalize on growth opportunities, deliver on its commitments, and drive shareholder value. Skydance is one of the largest media and entertainment companies in the world, with nearly $70 billion in revenue. We are targeting $6 billion-plus in run-rate synergies over the next three years. Applying the same operational playbook that allowed Paramount to exceed its synergy targets following the Skydance-Paramount merger, the synergy savings will come primarily from technology, integration and procurement, marketing and real estate rationalization. That will make the company leaner and more nimble, freeing it to grow its investment in the stories, creators and technology that matter most while reducing net leverage to its 3.0x target by the end of 2029.
Powered by best-in-class content, streaming scale and technological edge, the combined company expects to generate more than $10 billion in free cash flow by 2030 – reducing leverage while funding growth and investment. Its pro forma content spend of more than $30 billion for the last twelve-month period will be disciplined and strategic, prioritizing audience reach and long-term value creation.
WBD’s common stock has ceased trading on the Nasdaq Exchange, effective today. The Ellison Family holds the largest equity stake in Skydance (NYSE: SKYD), and the Ellison Family and RedBird Capital Partners (“RedBird”) together are the sole holders of Paramount Class A Common Stock, including 100% of the combined company’s voting shares.
As previously stated, the transaction included $47 billion of new equity investment in Class B Common Stock, led by the Ellison Family, RedBird, Public Investment Fund (PIF), L’IMAD, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and LionTree, which was priced at $12.00 per share. The debt financing for the transaction was led by Bank of America, Citigroup and Apollo.
