Why would the others be better in your opinion?
Netflix. Or none at all and Zaslov told to rack off.
We donât need a repeat of the Disney-20th Century (Fox) merger - as in two big studios getting together in unholy corporate matrimony.
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Why would Netflix be better? Lock all the WB stuff away on their streaming service and drastically reduce the current theatrical output? Horrible idea. Regardless of what Netflix and the press reports have been claiming, any promises are nothing more than a performance to get a potential deal approved. Arguably Paramount or Universal would be much better than that.
Ideally WB would just stay independent. 20th Century has been relegated to a label pumping out three IP theatricals and maybe a couple more streamers each year. Considering the bumper year WB just had, itâs a shame theyâre considering a sale. The studio hasnât been in this good of a shape since the pre AT&T days.
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Not any better, a lesser of several evils by a bees dick.
Thatâs what I hope.
I disagree to an extent. I donât like Ellison much but his vision for Paramount as an entertainment business is a shaping up to be a lot better than what Netflix has been doing. As a news business is a different story, but Netflix doesnât want that component anyway.
We donât need any more of Trumpâs sycophants controlling more and more of the entertainment and information space. This is sounding more and more like Nazi Germany by the day. UFA 2.0? No thanks.
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If Netflix wants this deal they will bend to Trump. They probably stay out of news for this exact reason. Just like how Apple TV stay out of news to avoid things like this. Everyone in the media will be a Trump sycophant when they need to get something through him. Universal donated to his ballroom, Disney paid him $15m and dumped a presenter for a week. Everyone pays a tribute when required. The sooner he is gone, the better. Same with Larry Ellison. David Ellison, at least from what he presents, seems to care about running a solid media company.
Does WB discovery own HBO Max?
Yes.
Paramount, which has already had three proposals rejected by the WBD board, is staying in the hunt, as are Netflix and Comcast, multiple sources familiar with deal deliberations have told Deadline.
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The letters from Parâs Melrose lot to WBDâs Burbank lot indicate a court filing or hostile takeover play may be in the cards if and when WBD picks a buyer other than Paramount, according to industry insiders.
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Meanwhile itâs been reported Netflix has the highest bid right now. Warner has asked for another round of bids by the end of today. If Netflix remains the front runner, their bid will most likely be accepted.
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This was the worst outcome of the three options.
I wonder if there will be anti-trust and other regulatory issues with this.
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I know Netflix have a 5 billion dollar breakup fee (same as Paramount) so they seem relatively confident there wonât be.
Iâm rather pessimistic as to what this means for theatre/cinema releases rather than just putting it on the Wheel of Slop that Netflix has descended into.
However I also think the Ellisons are shady characters too.
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That sounds like a show that Netflix would commission.
Theyâre all dodgy characters. Iâd prefer WBD left as is, but that ainât happening.
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Are we thinking similar to what 20th Century has become under Disney?
Especially Warnersâ subsidiaries such as DC, CNN, Max, HBO, Cartoon, Food, among others. As well as WB Picturesâ labels like New Line (previously a subsidiary in its own right), Castle Rock. Plus WB TV. And of course all the iconic and lucrative IP, not to mention numerous global licencing contracts, of note Friends.
Wonder if WBD can put any caveats into the deal and what itâd mean for current shareholders, board and executives.
But yeah, this isnât great news and seems unnecessarily convoluted and messy.
Keep in mind Netflix only offers to buy parts of the company for $28 a share.
Paramount has offered to buy it all for $27 a share and has previously complained about the process not once but a lot of times.
The early market reaction says a lot.
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Really? Paramount acquiring WBD is far worse, surely? The Ellisons want to turn CNN into a right wing propaganda outlet. Iâd have thought you of all people would be against that.
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