Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav Sends Farewell Video Ahead of Skydance Merger
David Zaslav recorded a goodbye video for Warner Bros. Discovery staff as the company prepares to merge with Paramount's Skydance, creating a new media entity.
David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, posted an internal farewell video to staff, praising their contributions and recalling the company’s storied output. Filmed in the Loft warehouse at the Warner Bros.
Studios’ Ranch in Burbank, the three-minute clip featured a montage of hits such as "Barbie," "Dune," "Friends," and "Harry Potter," as well as one outlet and sports programming. The message arrives as the pending merger with David Ellison’s Paramount-Skydance, scheduled to close on Oct. 6, will rebrand the combined entity as Skydance Corp. Zaslav, who earned $165 million in 2025, is slated to receive a golden-parachute of at least $550 million upon the deal’s completion.
The merger adds further debt to an already leveraged balance sheet, following previous cost-cutting measures and a failed split into two publicly traded companies. Zaslav expressed optimism for the future of the workforce and gratitude for his years at the company.
Why it matters
The farewell marks the end of Warner Bros. Discovery’s independent era and signals a major media consolidation with financial and cultural implications.
How this story developed
- Oct 2 Skydance to become corporate brand for merged Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery
- Oct 3 Ellison outlined that the merged studios will retain their own spotlight under a shared corporate identity.
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