Comcast / NBCUniversal

Comcast is a cable and broadband giant and parent of NBCUniversal, which includes Universal Pictures, Peacock and NBC’s TV networks. - Unsuccessful rival bidder proposing a merger of assets

On December 5, 2025, Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced a definitive deal for Netflix to acquire Warner Bros.' film and television studios plus its premium and streaming businesses, including HBO and HBO Max, in a transaction valued at roughly $72 billion in equity and $82.7 billion including debt. On January 20, 2026, the parties amended the agreement to an all-cash structure at the same $27.75 per share price, accelerating the timeline for a shareholder vote now expected by April 2026. The deal follows WBD's June 2025 decision to split into two public companies—Warner Bros. (studios and streaming) and Discovery Global (cable networks)—and caps a months-long auction in which Netflix outbid Paramount Skydance and Comcast. In the weeks following the announcement, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos met personally with President Donald Trump at the White House, while rival Paramount Skydance launched a $108 billion hostile tender offer that WBD's board has repeatedly rejected.

Updated Jan 24

Comcast is spinning off a large slice of NBCUniversal’s cable networks to sharpen its growth narrative. - Completed Versant separation; stock showed technical adjustment post-distribution but maintained stability as streamlined growth-focused company

The divorce is final. On January 2, 2026, Comcast completed the pro rata distribution of Versant Media Group shares to its shareholders, and on January 5 the new company began regular-way trading on Nasdaq under ticker VSNT. The market's verdict was swift: Versant opened at $45.17 but closed its first day down 13% at $40.57, then continued falling to around $34.41 by week's end—a 24% drop from its debut price. That gives the cable-network bundle a market value of roughly $5.9 billion, or about 4.5 times projected 2026 EBITDA, well below the $10 billion that early estimates floated.

Updated Jan 11