OT: Netflix Acquiring Warner Brothers

[Chin Diesel]

Not sure what it all means, and I doubt it will affect my life materially or emotionally, but it seems like it will have some impact.

Also a reminder Blockbuster had the chance to buy Netflix for $50 million 25 years ago.

Now? Netflix is dropping $72B to acquire Warner Brothers.

 

[husky429]

The consolidation of media continues. It it's good for the rest of us.

 

[boog204]

Not sure what it all means, and I doubt it will affect my life materially or emotionally, but it seems like it will have some impact.

Also a reminder Blockbuster had the chance to buy Netflix for $50 million 25 years ago.

Now? Netflix is dropping $72B to acquire Warner Brothers.

The decline and extinction of Blockbuster was the beginning of the end. I so miss going in there with my people, trying to find the "right" movie, grabbing snacks, and silently judging the employees.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Not sure what it all means, and I doubt it will affect my life materially or emotionally, but it seems like it will have some impact.

Also a reminder Blockbuster had the chance to buy Netflix for $50 million 25 years ago.

Now? Netflix is dropping $72B to acquire Warner Brothers.

Not sure it will be approved. But the other two bidders, Comcast and Paramount have antitrust issues as well. Both of them are horizontal competitors with WB from a production and distribution point of view. Netflix is a competitor from an app/streaming point of view (HBO Max is #3). The best answer, if they would step up, is Apple.

Can't say this is good for consumers, but I don't think WB is going to survive on its own, ever since ATT spun them out. Too much debt.

 

[Palatine]

This is just step one in a long process filled with pitfalls. Patience. No one knows how this will play out.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

This deal doesn't include TNT. So, maybe some of the cash coming in will be used to further TNT's commitment to college sports?

 

[JohnFSilver]

Not sure it will be approved. But the other two bidders, Comcast and Paramount have antitrust issues as well. Both of them are horizontal competitors with WB from a production and distribution point of view. Netflix is a competitor from an app/streaming point of view (HBO Max is #3). The best answer, if they would step up, is Apple.

Can't say this is good for consumers, but I don't think WB is going to survive on its own, ever since ATT spun them out. Too much debt.

Netflix and HBO a great merge. Warner brothers does some great work. Netflix should ne able to get this through, I see no difference between this and the paramount sky dance merger.

 

[sledog]

If true, Hard to believe Ellison didn't re-bid.

 

[djct1999]

This won’t get through for anti trust, both here in America and in Europe. The genius behind it is that NFLX doesn’t care. It will go through courts for two years, keeps wbd away from competitors cmcsa and psky.

 

[HooperScooper]

Netflix and HBO a great merge. Warner brothers does some great work. Netflix should ne able to get this through, I see no difference between this and the paramount sky dance merger.

Netflix should speak to Paramount about what it takes to get the acquisition approved.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Netflix should speak to Paramount about what it takes to get the acquisition approved.

They’re reviewing their list of fireable talent as we speak.

 

[OceanDoggie]

Good for Netflix. They've been forced to purchase studios and Developers and create content in-house. Most if not all the major Networks have indirectly acted colllusively against Netflix by building rival services, excluding Netflix from the right to license that content and through Merger like CBS/Viacom (Paramount) etc.

 

[Lafayette]

Paramount goes all in now.

 

[superjohn]

Whether it's Netflix or Parmount this is terrible for the industry and the consumer.

The industry is already a mess but this will just pave the way for more terrible rom coms, super hero movies, and AI slop. The consumers will have to pay a lot more for the privilege of watching the slop.

 

[Lafayette]

I have Netflix and Prime so guess who I hope gets the content….

 

[HuskyHawk]

This is far from over. The WB has a ton of IP. Getting HBO's premier legacy content is key for Netflix but Paramount is saddled debt with over $20 billion in debt. Whoever gets WB will inherit their $40 billion in debt.

Paramount can't pull it off. Amazon is the one to watch. They can swoop in and take WB easily.

If Netflix does win, it will cause havoc in Hollywood as they are known for their tight cost control and quick cancellations. Their contracts are also much shorter.

As I said earlier, the one company that could do it easily, with pocket change, and has no antitrust roadblocks, is Apple. But do they want to? They've been on the edges of this space so far.

Amazon already has Amazon studios up and running. From an app perspective it's as bad as Netflix consuming the #3 streaming app. Disney will move up the list once they fully collapse Hulu into Disney+.

 

[phillionaire]

I think it's good that there are only like 4 companies that own everything

 

[B1GEast]

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/warner-preparing-to-tell-shareholders-to-reject-paramount-offer-38f069ae