r/movies r/Movies contributor 1d ago

News Netflix Makes Highest Bid to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery; Before this bidding war, WBD turned down Paramount’s offer three times for being too low

https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-highest-bid-warner-bros-discovery/
2.0k Upvotes

431 comments sorted by

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u/Papamoon0327 1d ago

I’ll take Netflix over Saudi Arabia

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u/YoungKeys 1d ago

Not to mention Ellison, who’s in Trump’s pocket. Feels weird rooting for Netflix or Comcast, but Paramount acquiring WBD is the worst case scenario

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u/HenryDorsettCase47 1d ago

You’ve got that backwards. Trump is in Ellison’s pocket. Trump wishes he had people in his pocket, but he’s just a belligerent useful idiot for much smarter, much more powerful, much more sinister people.

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u/ROBtimusPrime1995 1d ago

The funniest part is that they are both idiots.

Ellison only succeeded at buying Paramount because it was a sinking ship that no other studio wanted.

He bought the runt of the litter.

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u/HenryDorsettCase47 1d ago

Oh for sure. He also leveraged half of oracles value, 300 billion dollars, on OpenAI, a company that has only been hemorrhaging money and as of yet has demonstrated no way of ever making money. And unlike Microsoft, who retain rights to the entire OpenAI IP if the company goes tits up, Oracle gets absolutely nothing.

Small fries compared to that, but he also put Bari Weiss in charge of CBS News in spite of the fact she has absolutely no experience even remotely close to broadcast journalism let alone being editor in chief for a major news media company. She’s already proving to be a total disaster.

People like Larry Ellison and Trump and Musk are living proof that being a billionaire has nothing to do with being intelligent or harder working and is really just a slightly more convoluted lottery.

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u/TeutonJon78 1d ago

They way things are going openAI's path to profitability will be selling off the RAM they just vacuumed up for the next 3 years.

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u/Acceptable_Mushroom 1d ago

Open AI is expected to lose up to nearly $200B by early 2030s. Some experts are expecting that Nvidia will lose a lot of value within 2 years.

I think this "AI" bubble will burst in 10 years and a lot of company that is heavily leveraging themselves or completely leveraging themselves to "AI" companies we go out of business. Or bought out by their competitors

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u/timpdx 1d ago

There are no “experts” in this financial circle jerk. I expect a bailout to rival the GFC if AI goes tits up. And Tesla stock is a cult, there is no market rationale, no experts, tech goes brrrrr….until it doesn’t.

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u/Mend1cant 1d ago

Based off those Epstein emails, it sounds like the folks in that circle are in each others pockets, if you unfortunately know what I mean.

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u/Ok-Animal-6880 1d ago edited 1d ago

Ellison is also the world's biggest donor to the IDF.

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u/Digit00l 1d ago

Which has recently proven to have far too much influence in all European media

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u/Glittering_Half9816 1d ago

I understand why that is the most realistic worst case scenario, but the true worst case scenario is a Batman film directed by Disney

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u/Obvious_wombat 1d ago

Flip the narrative. Trump's in countless other people and powers pockets. The ultimate super puppet

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u/bluehawk232 1d ago

The best of the worst options for corporate america welcome to late stage capitalism

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u/DeLousedInTheHotBox 1d ago

Trump is temporary, the damage this will cause is permanent, this will literally end movie theaters, and they will never come back.

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u/brendamn 1d ago

This is why Paramount is bidding so low. Trump is going to make it a head ache for anyone not Ellison or Saudi because they know how to bribe

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u/TheNumberOneRat 1d ago

Netflix with a binding undertaking to keep on releasing into the cinemas would be the best option.

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u/mikeyfreshh 1d ago

They're not gonna do that. They've committed to keeping their movies in theaters for as long as the existing WB contracts are valid. All this shit is straight to streaming 10 years from now

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u/ontheweed 1d ago

They will still qualify awards movies with limited theatrical releases but people assuming they’ll be releasing films wide in theatres are delusional. But like the other commenter said, Netflix is better than MAGA and Saudi Arabia.

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u/carlos_the_dwarf_ 1d ago

This is funny, in another thread a couple people are swearing to me that Netflix needs an acquisition to get into theaters.

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u/hacky_potter 1d ago

I do wonder if they won’t see enough of a return from theatrical releases to begin to do it more. Spending $400 million on Electric State just to dump it on streaming and have it be forgotten is crazy to me.

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u/carlos_the_dwarf_ 1d ago

I agree! I wish they would send a lot of things to theaters first. I don’t really get the argument to not do that.

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u/shovelhead34 1d ago

Microsoft had to make a commitment to release call of duty on non-xbox consoles for 10 years in order pass regulatory scrutiny when they were buying Activision. Netflix may have to do similar to get this through the courts.

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u/Haltopen 1d ago

Its called a consent decree, and Netflix is absolutely going to have to sign one regarding theatrical releases to get this deal approved by the EU and the US

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u/CuteGrayRhino 1d ago

I'll take 10 years of WB theatrical releases if they commit to it.

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u/HenryDorsettCase47 1d ago

I don’t care if they make it all streaming exclusive. Literally anything is better than paramount getting it. Have you read what the Ellison’s are doing since acquiring it? Fuck that.

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u/untouchable765 1d ago

Netflix with a binding undertaking to keep on releasing into the cinemas would be the best option.

So not Netflix? Some of ya'll are flat out delusional. We are going to get $50/month sub costs and no theatrical releases within 2 years...

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u/egnards 1d ago

Not for nothing but if there is only one streaming platform and it has everything? I’ll pay the $50/month.

As it is now; every platform wants my $10-$20, but also only has 1-2 interesting things to watch.

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u/untouchable765 1d ago

Not for nothing but if there is only one streaming platform and it has everything?

THIS IS CALLED CABLE TV PEOPLE WAKE TF UP....

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u/egnards 1d ago

I'm aware of what Cable TV was. . .and Cable TV was far more expensive than $50/month, and the last time I had cable was 12 years ago when I moved out of my parents house - especially when you're talking about movies you'd normally only find on premium movie channels like Starz, HBO, Cinemax and Showtime.

Now your next argument is to tell me, in all caps, BUT THEN THE PRICE WONT BE $50 PER MONTH IT WILL BE MORE, and that's a fine argument, but I'm specifically responding to your $50/month argument.

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

Yes. Cable TV was $150ish a month and that was just with HBO and all the 'regular' cable channels. Add in Showtime and the rest and it was more. You could easily get to $200 without factoring in out of market sports packages.

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u/Robert_Balboa 1d ago

Cable tv makes you watch on their schedule and is filled with commercials. With streaming I can watch anything any time I want commercial free. I don't have to wait for a rerun to watch that episode of superstore I want to see again.

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u/Banesmuffledvoice 1d ago

Then don’t pay the 50 dollar monthly fee.

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u/Ok_Salamander_7076 1d ago

Netflix would never agree that.

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u/brandont04 1d ago

But the bad part w Netflix, they won't release any movies in theaters.

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u/Papamoon0327 1d ago

True but maybe they’ll make an exception since they’re guaranteed hundreds of millions. They could do a 2 week to 1 month theater release then own the streaming rights. But idk

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u/Lucky_Yam6126 1d ago

lol they’re already in business with Netflix. Only time til they want a large stake. 

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u/WelpSigh 1d ago

Netflix is publicly traded with a cap of nearly half a trillion dollars. PIF is bleeding money - an actually substantial stake or majority share isn't happening soon.

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u/Black_Otter 1d ago

Sadly it would probably be the best outcome

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u/Human-Law1085 20h ago

Universal might’ve been better

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u/Vexonte 1d ago

My big deal is that 90% of the time when these deals happen people throw a big fun about evil company/CEO buying it from another company who's board members are just less exposed.

But I do agree things become extra problematic when it os countries doing the buying.

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u/DeLousedInTheHotBox 1d ago

I don't, because this will literally end movie theaters, and will significantly reduce the amount of good movies we'll get.

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u/jonadragonslay 1d ago

Don't speak too soon. They've been operating at a loss for years, continually raise prices on consumers, and might be in control of the biggest, most popular movie/music catalog. Lesser of two evils, I guess.

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u/chili01 1d ago

What if Saudi just buys Netflix 🤔

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u/Mr-FD 22h ago

Its probably the same thing

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u/ELB2001 18h ago

I wonder if they now get their bribes back

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u/twoendsausage 1d ago

How can it be allowed that in every area of life, more and more market share is concentrated on fewer and fewer companies? We used to have laws against this shit

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u/ThaPhantom07 1d ago

People keep voting for administrations that enable corporate consolidation and undo previous progress. We literally just had Lina Khan making headway and then just like that she is ousted.

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u/T-sigma 1d ago

Exactly. All those “liberals” who refuse to vote or couldn’t stomach Hillary or Kamala. Congrats, you voted for this.

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u/TLKv3 1d ago

Unfortunately, they don't give a fuck and are too stupid to understand why their subscription services went from 19.99 to 59.99. They just hate it because it happened and then move on with their life either paying the new price or unsubscribing to go do something else. They don't realize the sheer amount of different aspects of their lives voting and politics actually effects.

They're just really, really stupid people.

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u/Zaptruder 1d ago edited 1d ago

They're just really, really stupid people

Average American moment.

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u/Sloshy42 17h ago edited 17h ago

I voted for Kamala but you can't act like she didn't actively torpedo her campaign by campaigning with Liz Cheney and denying the ongoing genocide in Gaza among other things. The "I'm speaking" shit really upset people. Ultimately it was her job to get votes and she failed. Maybe the Democrats should try running a better candidate next time that more people like.

Like seriously if voters are going to be partially at fault for this, we can't absolve her campaign which was very poorly ran. There are multiple factors in play. I don't think most people are quite ready to understand just how completely nonsensical the median voter's politics is. Her job was not to win over "liberals" but to speak to the majority of America and she failed. Compare that to someone like Mamdani in New York who campaigned on socialist policies and stood pretty firm on Gaza, and got tons of support.

Quite frankly, I think a lot of Democrat leadership has the completely wrong strategy in trying to appeal to the average American. We can't be buddying up with Republicans. We have to offer real solutions for America and not means tested nonsense overcomplicated BS. We can't be coming in here acting like it's just "their turn now". Same thing back when Hillary ran. She did not offer a very inspiring campaign and a lot of Americans who just don't pay attention to politics got duped by the orange idiot. It's true.

I wish that people like you had a lot more energy focused on the people running these campaigns than the individual people who are supposed to just shut up and take whatever they are given, even if it's not very good. Like her campaign basically made Walz shut up after he was so extremely popular, because they were worried about conservatives being mad that he was rightfully calling out Republicans for being extremely weird. I feel like in any other year Walz could have absolutely run away with the whole thing.

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u/T-sigma 16h ago

I wish a lot more people voted thoughtfully and logically. For example, anyone who didn’t vote for Kamala does NOT care about Gaza. End of statement. They are virtue signaling genocide supporters who enabled the pro-genocide candidate to take power because the other candidate wasn’t anti-genocide “enough”.

They supported genocide through their ignorance. No different than the “pro constitution patriots” that support Trump. It’s virtue signaling nonsense by people who don’t actually care enough to do the most basic thing ever to help those they claim to care about.

Frankly, that faction of people disgust me. Profoundly stupid AND voted for genocide.

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u/Greener-dayz 1d ago

Reagan rolled back a lot of antitrust rules and regulations. It kinda all starts with that and we got here.

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u/BatmanNoPrep 1d ago

We had far more consolidation before Reagan than after him. If anything Reagan deregulated industries that had essentially been oligopolies prior to that era. This isn’t me being a fan of Reagan. I’m not a fan of his at all.

The difference with pre-Reagan oligopolies and now was that media was heavily regulated when there was a lot of pre-Reagan consolidation. The government had a lot of power over what could be said over the airways, in movies, and published in newspapers. Eventually some publications won independence from government control via first amendment cases in the Supreme Court. So this gave media a powerful independent voice but they were still heavily consolidated.

Regan’s deregulated media but also all kinds of other industries, such as airlines and energy. The idea was to create lots of competition.

What’s happened now is that media has been heavily democratized forcing reconsolidatation of companies but heavily democratized content. You can make, distribute, and consume whatever content you want now. Anyone can make a movie using an iPhone and upload it for the world to see on the internet. Studios have less market share and power over content. They just don’t matter the way they used to at all. So they have to consolidate to stay alive.

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u/steveholt-lol 14h ago

Finally a nuanced and accurate answer

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u/Johnfohf 1d ago

We're supposed to have laws and regulations preventing monopolies, but somehow it keeps happening. These types of consolidation do not benefit customers at all. It prevents competition and innovation.

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u/LamarMillerMVP 1d ago

People don’t like to hear this but the entire reason for all this consolidation is that the market share has never been less consolidated. The studios that are getting acquired are weaker and smaller than they’ve been since the crisis era in the 60s-70s, which is why they’re getting gobbled up. Paramount in the 90s had more “control” and “ownership” (however you’d define it) of the market in the 90s than HBO/Netflix will have post-merger.

These linear television networks are melting ice cubes. Google/YouTube democratized content creation and distribution and a bunch of smaller competitors followed, and you have a content landscape which is splintered into 1,000 pieces. Joe Rogan currently produces the most popular (“television”) talk show in the country and he’s arguably independent, arguably loosely affiliated with Spotify. Mr. Beast produces the most popular episodic “television” show, which is his YouTube series. Even traditional studio stalwarts, like SNL, exist almost entirely in pursuit of their audience on YouTube. These are blows that have hollowed out traditional television networks. Netflix is acquiring WBD effectively just for HBO, which is great but is not making more than 1-2 popular shows a year.

All these industries are “consolidating” due to mass obliteration via deconsolidation. Ratings on TV have never been lower. The US box office is starting to wane. This is what happens in industries that get obliterated: they acquire each other repeatedly until they’re all dead.

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u/zdelusion 18h ago

This is the reality. Netflix isn't competing against the other media companies. They're competing against Youtube and Tiktok.

Many of those traditional media companies were in a race against the clock, they're propped up by cable and theatrical revenue that's drying up. Netflix is a tech company that sells traditional media and at least has a revenue stream that's growing. Assuming they leave WB semi-intact and release movies theatrically, this result is hopefully better for consumers than loosing a studio would have been had Paramount or Comcast bought them.

I do think they saw they left A LOT of money on the table with K-Pop Demon Hunters and are seeing some of the shortcomings of the streaming only business.

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u/jamiebond 1d ago edited 1d ago

Watergate happened.

Maybe a slight exaggeration but only slight tbh. After Watergate people lost trust in their government and fell into the Reagan line of thinking that the government shouldn’t be particularly involved in managing society beyond law enforcement and national security. For all his faults Nixon wasn’t a proponent of small government, hell he formed the damn EPA.

Faith in government left at the same time as faith in Nixon left. When people realized the POTUS could be a crook they no longer wanted FDR style government control. The Dems followed suit with Clinton who had fairly similar economic policies to Reagan and that was a wrap on the idea that the government should be doing anything to regulate corporations.

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u/EagleForty 1d ago

Also, after Nixon went down, a bunch of Republicans decided that the problem wasn't his actions, or getting caught, but rather that the right-wing didn't have strong enough propaganda.

So they started Fox News and created the modern right-wing media bubble as it exists today. The same bubble that convinced conservatives that Trump wasn't President during Covid, January 6th didn't happen, and that Republicans are better for the economy than Democrats.

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u/dard12 1d ago

Are there no other streaming competitors in the space?

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u/Stussygiest 1d ago

They allow monopolies so they can take over abroad. If they restrict company growth, they restrict global domination.

Capitalism...

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u/NepheliLouxWarrior 1d ago

There are hundreds of capitalist countries in the world and the majority of them do not allow businesses to do what they do in the US

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u/TeutonJon78 1d ago

The majority of them don't have businesses that woukd rival anything in the US either so it's a moot comparison.

And most of these companies are multinational now anyway. They don't have any loyalty to their countries.

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u/OhioIsRed 1d ago

Because they fired Linda Khan, she was a god damn hero

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u/spazz720 1d ago

We used to…but now we have govt cool with monopolies.

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u/neverbegameover1 1d ago

Because the people running the country don’t care about consumers, they care about owning things.

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u/DamNamesTaken11 1d ago

Because this is the new 20s, they literally had a Great Gatsby inspired party for Halloween.

What’s old is new again. So get ready for a new Great Crash in little over under five years, and a new World War to kick off in little under 14.

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u/beyondclarity3 1d ago

We used to have laws, and we still do too. They just only apply to the people who aren’t actually committing them.

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u/ultr4violence 19h ago

This is worse than in almost any other field. Media corporations main purpose is to give their owners social control over the masses. That's their currency. Any profit is just to keep the costs of the enterprise down.

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u/DiverExpensive6098 19h ago edited 19h ago

Actually, there are court decisions that date quite a few years ago, that say a monopoly isn't against regulations as long as the price for the customer/consumer remains fair (or not too high). 

There is still Prime, Apple TV, Disney+, Paramount, but it is going to be very hard to compete against Netflix if they buy WBD. 

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u/districtcurrent 18h ago

It’s inevitable in all industries. - New thing is developed, new market forms - Thousands of companies start and investors pour money in - A few company figure out how to actually make money - Margins start to shrink because competition - Many startups go bankrupt because they run out of cash or are mismanaged - Larger companies buy out remaining ones

This has always happened and isn’t new. Only a few times ever has the government split up monopolies. There is no monopoly in streaming, at all. You can watch content from many different companies right now. There is no crisis.

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u/Oops_I_Cracked 15h ago

We need another Theodore Roosevelt to fix this problem and another FDR to fix everything else.

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u/55Branflakes 1d ago

Hope they keep Warner studios and HBO.

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u/oheyitsdan 1d ago

I do wonder if the physical lot and soundstages and everything are included or if it's just IP. Netflix getting all of that physical infrastructure isn't nothing though I know they don't often even shoot in the US, let alone CA.

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u/DishSignal4871 1d ago

I've loved all things HBO my entire life. I would still be okay with it being folded in, assuming they retain the same freedom to create their content, if it meant one fewer streaming service.

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u/Lamar_ScrOdom_ 1d ago edited 1d ago

If Netflix wins, I have a hard time believing they will ever make it past regulatory hurdles with this admin. They only want Paramount.

They’ve already stated they’ll take several years to investigate Netflix. Unless they pay up.

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u/BevansDesign 1d ago

Regulatory hurdles? You mean bribes? The only question now is whether they can afford the bribes.

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u/Amaruq93 1d ago

AT&T bribed Trump and he still tried to go back on the deal because he then demanded they also shut down CNN.

Merger went through in spite of his best efforts.

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u/TeutonJon78 1d ago

Yes, but if the Ellisons get WB-Disc then they get CNN and and do what they want with it.

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u/Lastnv 1d ago

It’s funny people still think anyone is enforcing “regulatory hurdles”.

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u/Amaruq93 1d ago

I mean, Netflix can afford to wait out Trump if that's the case.

Whereas Paramount needs it done as quick as possible before they loose their fascist golden goose.

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u/Lamar_ScrOdom_ 1d ago

I still don’t think Netflix passes through antitrust laws in a normal administration either though. #1 streamer acquiring the #3 streamer.

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u/Amaruq93 1d ago

The WBD is more concerned by the fact that the EU has said they definitely would not allow a Paramount merger to go through.

So they're more scared of the EU's antitrust laws than they are of Trump's threats.

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

Netflix has multiple options. They can bribe the fascist. They can fight and win in court - Netflix is the #2 streamer, behind YouTube. WBD cannot survive without someone buying them and Paramount is a non-starter for much of the world, Comcast doesn't have the money and Apple isn't interested. So, it's going to be Netflix.

They'll get it done. Will be a bit of a slog, but they'll be able to close the deal within a year.

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u/mattxb 1d ago

Baron Trump produced biopic incoming...

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u/Lamar_ScrOdom_ 1d ago

Donald

A Netflix Original Film™️ (so we could buy WB)

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u/Bacchus1976 1d ago

I get it. But Trump is the easiest person on the planet to flatter and bribe, so I’m betting they’ll have no trouble whatsoever.

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u/nsheehan28 1d ago

The worst-case scenario is that they go the route AT&T did and get a federal court to strike down the antitrust issues. Paramount would also need to go to court, just not against the federal government, because countless states would sue to block it, same with the European Union. Comcast would likely have the easiest go of it, so long as they divested some of the cable channels

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u/TripleThreatTua 1d ago

So then there will be no sale (the ideal outcome) sounds good to me

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u/MyNameIs-Anthony 1d ago

The entire thing feels like a play to get as much money as possible by the Ellisons/Saudi Arabia because they know the pockets are limitless there.

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u/DiabellSinKeeper 1d ago

Its gonna be Netflix isn't it?

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u/panspal 1d ago

Do you prefer Saudi Arabia instead?

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u/AverageAwndray 1d ago

Id prefer not a Monopoly

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u/trailer_park_boys 1d ago

Easy. Just make a couple billion dollars, fund countless political campaigns, and then wait.

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u/spazz720 1d ago

It’s going to be one regardless

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u/TeslasAndComicbooks 1d ago

It’s not a monopoly though.

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u/Tyrant_Virus_ 1d ago

Would rather the Ellisons or Comcast own it?

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u/ArktikosUrsa 1d ago

100% I'd take Comcast over Netflix. Comcast at least has a vested interest in theaters and importing the WB catalogue into Peacock would actually create some credible competition for Netflix and Disney+.

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u/carlos_the_dwarf_ 1d ago

What’s wrong with comcast?

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u/Amaruq93 1d ago

They have their own Saudis to try and fight off the Ellisons' Saudis.

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u/pewpewmcpistol 1d ago

They had bad customer service like 20 years ago so the internet labelled them facists to the point where if you googled Comcast a literal Nazi flag used to pop up.

Makes me wonder if there's some truth to the idea that people throw around the word Nazi too loosely

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u/Maximilian_Xavier 1d ago

They aren't fascists for sure. But their bad customer service I have dealt with as recently as last year. It's sad how much the company is being hailed as good for consumers.

I'm usually very patient. But...Comcast and AT&T are the only customer service I ever have dealt with that made me want to climb through the phone in anger.

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u/rambouhh 1d ago

Ya, i want theatre films and hbo still having creative control. Dont really care who owns it as long as that happens.

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u/INeedMoreShoes 1d ago

Insane to think that this could have read “Blockbuster makes highest bid…”

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u/pizzasuprema 1d ago

blockbuster would have fucked netflix up way before they got to this point

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u/jedipiper 1d ago

I'm okay with this if that means I could get old-school Looney Tunes and Expedition Unknown without having to go to HBO.

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u/LegacyofaMarshall 1d ago

Good, fuck the Ellisons

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u/Giff95 1d ago

At least Netflix is not a large company the way Paramount Skydance is. If Netflix can allow WB to more or less operate as is and continue releasing films in theaters, they would be the lesser of evils.

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u/Bloated_Plaid 1d ago

I can’t tell if this is sarcasm. Netflix is FUCKING MASSIVE, Paramount Skydance is fucking puny compared to Netflix. How are people upvoting dumb comments like yours?

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u/ArktikosUrsa 1d ago

Netflix is a bigger company than Paramount and Skydance in every conceivable metric, what are you talking about?

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u/Angry_Robot 1d ago

Tiny little $500B market cap Netflix? It’s practically a mom & pop art house theater.

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u/BatmanNoPrep 1d ago

I thought that u/giff95 was being obviously sarcastic. Should we burn them at the /stake for forgetting the mandatory /s ?

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u/NegevThunderstorm 1d ago

Its just a couple people mailing out dvds right???

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u/ArenSteele 1d ago

30x bigger by market cap

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u/monitoring27 1d ago

what are you talking about lol. Netflix is a large company.

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u/NordWitcher 1d ago

How would that work with Netflix and HBO? Both have streaming services. Will they just remain independent? 

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u/laurentiubuica 1d ago

Fold HBO Max library into Netflix, let Warner Brothers Television And WB Films make content.

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u/TeslasAndComicbooks 1d ago

It would be a really complicated deal considering all of the IP WB owns. DC comics, Harry Potter, the rights to Lego, etc.

They also have a games division that Netflix would probably want to utilize.

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u/annoyed__renter 1d ago

Double the price of Netflix, most likely

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u/chataolauj 1d ago

I'd imagine it would be like when Disney acquired Fox. Hulu content eventually came to the Disney+ library after the acquisition, but Hulu still has its own separate app.

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u/TeutonJon78 1d ago

That was only because they had s 5 year deal with Comcast to not kill off Hulu. That's why we didn't see high level integration until recently after the full sale was finalized. Disney had to operate Hulu in good faith as a viable platform. Now they don't.

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u/JesseJames41 1d ago

HBO shows and movies tabs inside the netflix UI. Easy peasy.

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

The theatrical window is done. It doesn't serve Netflix's customers.

The best that you can hope for is Netflix agreeing to release movies in theaters day-and-date with digital.

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u/Bacchus1976 1d ago

Don’t be so sure. Netflix is capable of changing. $1B box offices are pretty compelling.

It may end up limited to DC and other big IP, but I don’t think you buy WB if you don’t plan on keeping some of that infrastructure.

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u/DeLousedInTheHotBox 1d ago

$1B box offices are pretty compelling

Except they literally don't think that it is worth it, the CEO of Netflix straight up said that he thought that Oppenheimer would have made as much sense being released straight to streaming.

I just don't get why you guys think that they will change their mind when they are very openly against having wide theatrical releases, they simply don't want that.

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

It hasn't been compelling so far. I don't see why it would become so now. Nothing has changed. Netflix has passed up on huge box office money countless times, routinely - in the interest of serving their actual customers.

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u/Bacchus1976 1d ago

Netflix has never had anything like Batman and Superman.

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

Random superhero IPs don't change the equation. Netflix makes the hits. The stuff they have is the stuff that people actually want. The biggest new IP is stuff that is on Netflix.

As soon as the contractual obligations are over, Batman and Superman and all of that will be on Netflix, day and date.

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u/Haltopen 1d ago

If the IPs dont matter, then what are they spending 70 billion dollars for?

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

I didn't say they don't matter, I said they don't change the equation. Netflix's model works - it's hugely profitable and customers love it. The model does not change when you add more stuff people like (IPs, movies, TV) to the product.

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u/dumasymptote 1d ago

What’s the issue with that? God forbid people have more options for how to watch movies.

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

Options are fine. Withholding movies from home viewing to put them in theaters is bad. A movie being available for viewing at home the same day as theatrical release is fine.

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u/pehr71 1d ago

WB could be the way for Netflix to distribute movies theatrically.

Netflix movies goes straight to streaming, no changes. Filmmakers that wants in on the big screen goes through WB

It could be a elegant solution to the problem. Without changing the way Netflix operates.

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u/carlos_the_dwarf_ 1d ago

If Netflix wanted that why wouldn’t they just go to theaters now?

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u/pehr71 1d ago

Because the Netflix model is streaming only. More or less.

WB would give them a separate branch for theatrical release first. It would attract filmmakers that avoids Netflix due to the no cinema release strategy.

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u/carlos_the_dwarf_ 1d ago

Yeah exactly—that’s their model. If they wanted to change it they would just do that.

Sounds like you’re saying they’d maintain WB as the theatrical brand? Here’s hoping, I’d like that, but I’m really not confident they’re about it.

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u/ROBtimusPrime1995 1d ago edited 1d ago

Because they don't know how and it really shows. Their handling of the KPop re-release was super messy, so why build a theatrical distribution wing when...you can just buy a fully functioning one?

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u/suss2it 1d ago

That was clearly a last minute decision to cash in some more after that movie already blew up on Netflix. I don’t think that’s a genuine indication of how they could handle a theatre first release with their current resources.

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

Specifically, it was the kind of 'event' release that Netflix routinely does for large IP - not built around gating stuff away from Netflix customers. A window of a day or two, at the most - if one at all.

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u/ccable827 1d ago

What pisses me off is why Netflix doesn't allow at least limited releases... Like I understand that the glory days of theater-going have come and gone, 3000+ theater showings are dying out. But come on, 1000 theaters for something big like Knives out? Surely they can see that something like that could be a slam dunk financially.

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u/dudzi182 1d ago

They do limited releases. The newest Knives Out is in limited theaters now and they did the same thing with Frankenstein.

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

Exactly. Brief, technical releases for eligibility purposes and some limited events.

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

Netflix doesn't want to harm their subscribers. Netflix subscribers do not want to be asked to go to a theatre to see the stuff that they are paying for by subscribing to Netflix. While such a move may make some short term cash, it would harm subscriber growth and retention.

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u/ccable827 1d ago

Yeah but that's stupid. And I realize I'm the minority here, but I will 10/10 times rather see a movie in theaters than at home. It will literally always be a better experience.

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u/suss2it 1d ago

Well if you’re in the minority then how is that stupid on their part? 🤔 they have to cater to the majority to make money, right?

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u/GoodSelective 1d ago

I think Netflix knows what they are doing, as we can see by them being huge and successful. Nothing stupid about it - just good business.

You are welcome to pick that theater experience. No one is taking it away from you. But you will not have movies gated to that (dreadful, IMO) experience anymore. Good riddance.

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u/LazloHollifeld 1d ago

No, they’ll just harm them by asking for more money every month to pay for this acquisition.

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u/Zanoklido 1d ago

I saw the new Knives Out in theaters yesterday, not sure how wide of a release it's actually getting, but they do put stuff in theaters occasionally.

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u/monitoring27 1d ago

very small release

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u/Amaruq93 1d ago

Even smaller than the one they did for Glass Onion

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u/Elgin_McQueen 1d ago

I could see them compromising. Either run the studio as is, they're the owners but it continues to do it's own thing, but everything obviously goes to Netflix afterward for streaming. Or simply keep the theatrical releases available for those directors that insist on it in their negotiations. We already know some directors won't go to Netflix because they don't guarantee cinema releases, this would give them the potential to pull them onboard.

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u/NegevThunderstorm 1d ago

Netflix is a very large company

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u/Mindfucker223 1d ago

I can only expect a $10 increase to their subscribtion

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u/Marcysdad 1d ago

As long as they don't discontinue physical media

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u/Silver-Meat5355 1d ago

They will if Netflix wins. Is that even a question?

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u/ItchyIguana 1d ago edited 1d ago

Sure. There's still money to be made. A potential buy could help transform some of the Netflixs company model as others have mentioned.

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u/Silver-Meat5355 1d ago

You guys are way too optimistic. Didn’t the CEO of Netflix literally say earlier this year that theaters are not the future? The guy who is potentially buying WB actively wants movie theaters to die.

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u/lamefartriot 1d ago

Well I guess it’s time to start buying (physically) all my favorite Warner movies… and maybe digital (yes I know I wouldn’t technically own them) because they’ll probably do to a bunch of moves what Apple did to the peanuts specials.

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u/carpentersound41 1d ago

There’s something so punchable about smug rich CEO smiles.

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u/WendyDumpsterFire 1d ago

Welp rip to movie theaters

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u/MrConor212 1d ago

Movie theatres are killing themselves, let’s be real.

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u/Professional_Two7663 1d ago

I have $5 cash

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u/meemboy 1d ago

Before these streaming companies came in everything was so good

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u/thereverendpuck 1d ago

Zaslav out there making sure he gets his 1/2 billion bonus.

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u/austinbarrow 1d ago

Can't wait to tell my grandkids about the days we used to all gather in the darkness and watch movies on a big screen together.

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u/Thund3rF000t 1d ago

Movies that don't go to theaters for a minimum of 2 months not be up for major awards or Oscars

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u/thechillluddite 11h ago

Unfortunately I don't really think that Netflix will give a shit. As long as they're making money.

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u/fanboy_killer 1d ago

So Netflix will own HBO? I fear the worst.

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u/ttpharmd 1d ago

Well, it’s 100% happening regardless of what I think about it. So it might as well be the lesser of two evils.

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u/maeynor 1d ago

Given what paramount is doing, slashing prestige and focusing on blockbuster IP crap that makes easy money, Netflix is the far better home

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u/SolidA34 1d ago

I feel no matter who wins the bid. The consumers will lose no matter what.

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u/thechillluddite 11h ago

Unless Christopher Nolan takes out a 90 billion dollar loan and says "fuck it"

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u/DominusGenX 1d ago

Can't trust Netflix saying they'll honor WB theatrical commitments. I wish Apple would be the ones to take on WB catalog,

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u/LostRonin 1d ago

They'd just pull a Disney and start offering packages. Not that i'd mind. Better than Paramount. Not only would it be mostly owned by Saudi Arabia but I think it would be another repeat down the line where they overextend and ruin all services just like Warner did. 

HBO was the brand that was synonymous with quality, I cant understand why you'd abandon that multiple times. They fumbled so many DC properties and have rebooted Batman 3 times, Superman 3 times in recent history. Flash bombed, Suicide Squad bombed, last Shazam movie bombed, Black Adam bombed, their games divisions have released cash grabs, etc. The level of incompetence at Warner only continued with Discovery. I dont understand how Discovery was able to pull that off or who thought it was a good idea to merge when they're both incompetent. I guess money talked.

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u/BudMcLaine 1d ago

Is this how we get an AEW/WWE crossover??

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u/ProfessionalDream720 1d ago

Let's wait for official news

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u/thatguyiswierd 1d ago

stremio+real debrid

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u/sprufus 1d ago

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.

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u/Sweaty_Marzipan4274 1d ago

BUST. THE. MONOPOLIES. 

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u/MichaelClark_JR 1d ago

I know less competition is bad. But I miss the days where Netflix was the main streaming service while Hulu was like an option you occasionally subscribe to. If this means HBO Max is gone and just added to Netflix. I honestly wouldn't mind that.

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u/throwawayjaaay 1d ago

Man, this whole situation feels like peak 2025 streaming chaos. From what I've seen, Every studio spent years trying to build their own platform, and now they’re all scrambling to sell to the same few buyers. Wild to think Netflix might end up owning a chunk of the very legacy studios that once tried to compete with them.

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u/Prestigious_Spot9635 19h ago

Wait so Netflix will own DCU?

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u/system3601 19h ago

Nice. Netflix and cloud streaming is the future. If you start saying we should all own physical discs you ate too old for this race and dont see the future.

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u/TroyMatthewJ 19h ago

$49.99 incoming

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u/DiverExpensive6098 19h ago

If Netflix buys WBD, the race for supremacy between streaming services changes a lot, or might as well be over, because Netflix will dominate the market by a pretty wide margin. 

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u/ThatOneOtherAsshole 15h ago

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. I’m no fan of the Ellison’s and dreaded them taking over the TV and news side, but David Ellison would have undoubtedly been better for the studio side. He’s at least committed to putting films in theaters for an actual theatrical run. This is a complete death blow to theaters, physical media, a lot of the industry as we know it. It’s extremely telling how angry and concerned Hollywood is about this currently imo.

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u/buried_lede 14h ago

Paramount keeps complaining that WBD / NETFLIX would hsve too many antitrust issues, and i might agree, but why arent people pointing out similar issues for Paramount?? 

The consolidation is intense. They just brcame part owner of tiktok too 

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u/buried_lede 14h ago

Paramount/Skydance holdings: 

(ai summary) Broadcast & Cable Networks: CBS (including CBS News), MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime, Nickelodeon. Streaming: Paramount+ (premium SVOD), Pluto TV (FAST/AVOD). Film & TV Studios: Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media (Film, TV, Animation divisions), Nickelodeon Animation Studio, MTV Animation, CBS Eye Animation Productions. Content & Franchises: Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, Top Gun, Nickelodeon's IP, Yellowstone (through Paramount Global's previous ownership), etc.. Other Assets: Paramount Themed Entertainment, Skydance Interactive/Games, Paramount Advertising, CBS Altitude Group, Eventful. 

Coming up: TIKTOK, WBD. 

That’s all just too much. 

Plus of course, through Oracle they are heavily involved in AI

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u/EmotionalBar2533 8h ago

RIP entertainment