How Netflix Forced Paramount to Cough Up More for Warner Bros.

Netflix Albuquerque Studios film and television production studio lot in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

David Ellison finally got what he wanted but his prize didn’t come cheap.

His pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. was nearly thwarted by a wealthy rival suitor, Netflix Inc., which ultimately forced Ellison’s Paramount Skydance Corp. to shell out at least $31 billion more than it planned for the legendary Hollywood studio.