Business
business
Tom Jones

Warner Bros. board members reportedly consider reopening deal talks with Paramount

Paramount’s latest amended bid for Warner Bros. Discovery has finally given the board members of the entertainment conglomerate something to seriously think about, after Bloomberg reported over the weekend that WBD is now considering reopening negotiations with Paramount, despite striking an ~$83 billion binding deal with Netflix in early December.

With the market closed yesterday, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery investors are just now getting the chance to react to the news, with the stocks up around 3% and 1%, respectively, in premarket trading.

Last Tuesday, Paramount announced that it had enhanced its all-cash $30-per-share bid for Warner Bros., adding an offer to cover the $2.8 billion breakup fee the company would incur with Netflix, as well as a $0.25-per-share “ticking fee” for every quarter the deal hasn’t closed after the end of 2026. Despite Paramount (again) not boosting the bid’s headline cash offer, these latest terms, as well as an offer to backstop a Warner Bros. debt refinancing, have apparently proven enough to give at least some board members pause for thought.

Indeed, top brass at the HBO owner are mulling the possibility that Paramount’s boosted offer could lead to a better deal down the line, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the board’s latest thinking. Still, whether that means the WBD board is hoping for a better bid from Paramount themselves — or the streamer they’ve currently got a binding deal with — is another matter entirely.

More Business

See all Business
The entrance of Allbirds seen from Hayes St. in San Francisco, Calif.

Allbirds, the once buzzy multibillion-dollar sneaker startup, is selling up for $39 million

That’s less than 1% of its peak market cap about four years ago.

Tom Jones3/31/26
business

JetBlue is raising its bag fees as fuel costs squeeze airlines

JetBlue will reportedly hike its bag fees, as the cost of jet fuel continues to climb amid the war in Iran. It’s the latest example of carriers finding ways to push rising costs onto travelers.

Last week, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said that if fuel prices remain elevated, fares would need to rise another 20% for his airline to break even this year.

As CNBC reported, when one airline raises fees, others tend to follow.

Earlier this month, JetBlue hiked its first-quarter outlook for operating revenue per seat mile to between 5% and 7%, saying that strong Q1 demand helped “partially offset additional expenses realized from operational disruptions and rising fuel costs.” Now, the carrier appears to be making moves to further boost revenue to offset those costs.

Earlier on Monday, JetBlue rival Alaska Air lowered its Q1 profit forecast. The refining margins for the carrier’s cheapest fuel option — sourced from Singapore and representing about 20% of Alaska’s overall supply — have spiked 400% since February.

JetBlue did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As CNBC reported, when one airline raises fees, others tend to follow.

Earlier this month, JetBlue hiked its first-quarter outlook for operating revenue per seat mile to between 5% and 7%, saying that strong Q1 demand helped “partially offset additional expenses realized from operational disruptions and rising fuel costs.” Now, the carrier appears to be making moves to further boost revenue to offset those costs.

Earlier on Monday, JetBlue rival Alaska Air lowered its Q1 profit forecast. The refining margins for the carrier’s cheapest fuel option — sourced from Singapore and representing about 20% of Alaska’s overall supply — have spiked 400% since February.

JetBlue did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Latest Stories

Sherwood Media, LLC produces fresh and unique perspectives on topical financial news and is a fully owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, Inc., and any views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of any other Robinhood affiliate, including Robinhood Markets, Inc., Robinhood Financial LLC, Robinhood Securities, LLC, Robinhood Crypto, LLC, Robinhood Derivatives, LLC, or Robinhood Money, LLC. Futures and event contracts are offered through Robinhood Derivatives, LLC.