Credit Risks: Top S&P Global Ratings Analyst Breaks Down the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

Credit Risks: Top S&P Global Ratings Analyst Breaks Down the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

From Strictly Business by iHeartPodcasts

June 5, 2026 · 18 min

About this episode

Naveen Sarma discusses the implications of the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger and the associated credit risks.

The proposed $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is approaching completion, but concerns around debt, execution risk, and long-term industry volatility loom large. Naveen Sarma, sector lead for U.S. media and telecom at S&P Global, breaks down the opportunities and potential pitfalls ahead for the company, and he explains why S&P Global downgraded Paramount Skydance's credit rating after it clinched the WBD deal agreement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Guest: Naveen Sarma

Topics covered

  • mergers
  • credit ratings
  • media industry
  • debt concerns
  • business analysis

Keywords

  • merger
  • credit risk
  • S&P Global
  • Paramount
  • Warner Bros. Discovery
  • debt
  • media
  • telecom

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: S&P Global, Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Skydance

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