After securing exclusive rights as Formula 1’s official streaming partner in the U.S. beginning with the 2026 season, Apple may be setting its sights on a much bigger prize. According to Bloomberg, the company is exploring a potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery’s extensive content catalog — a move that could dramatically expand Apple’s entertainment footprint.
Warner Bros. Discovery, one of the world’s most influential media conglomerates, controls a formidable array of brands, including HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Entertainment, Cartoon Network, and Discovery Channel. The company is currently fielding offers for portions of its content rights as part of a larger strategic review that could reshape the media landscape.
Reports suggest Paramount recently made a $2.1 billion bid for Warner’s assets, which was rejected for undervaluing the media giant. Amid this, several major players — including Netflix, Comcast, Amazon, and Apple — have reportedly expressed interest in buying the company’s global content library or even its Streaming & Studios division.
Is “Apple TV Max” on the Horizon?
While Apple has not publicly commented on the potential deal, speculation continues to swirl. The acquisition, if realized, could surpass the scale of Apple’s $3 billion Beats purchase from a decade ago. On The Town podcast, Apple’s senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, addressed the broader topic of acquisitions, hinting at the company’s cautious approach: “I never say no to anything in the future, but it’s not our approach. We like building things ourselves — that’s how we stand out and do unique things.”
Cue’s comments align with Apple’s content strategy over the past few years. Rather than acquiring established studios outright, Apple has prioritized growing its Apple TV+ catalog internally, emphasizing original productions and high-quality storytelling. Still, the company has shown increasing openness to strategic partnerships — such as its recent bundle collaboration with Peacock — to attract more subscribers.
Whether Apple ultimately makes a move on Warner Bros. Discovery remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the company’s ambitions in the streaming and entertainment space are accelerating. A potential deal of this scale could redefine Apple’s place in the global media industry — and create what some are already calling an “Apple TV Max” era.
