By Amy-Jo Crowley and Milana Vinn Feb 19 (Reuters) - Netflix has ample cash and could bump up its offer for HBO Max owner Warner Bros Discovery if competing bidder Paramount Skydance increases its own offer,

EXCLUSIVE: Former Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Group Chief Mike Ireland has been hired by Warner Bros Picture Group as President of Production. He will join Jesse Ehrman, Warner Bros current President of Production.

Some cinema operators remain wary of Netflix’s bid, including Cinemark CEO Sean Gamble, who said Wednesday he is “apprehensive” Netflix will commit to standard theatrical release windows.

David Ellison's team will put the government on a time crunch in the event Paramount knocks out Netflix and wins the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos says Paramount needs to 'put their money where their mouth is' as Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition talks begin anew.

Warner Bros. Discovery said Paramount agreed to raise its $30 a share cash offer if WBD agreed to talks, which it has.

The studio, which joins Paramount and Disney in sending cease-and-desists to ByteDance, accuses the company of deliberately rolling out Seedance 2.0 without safeguards.