WBD Acquisition Thread

[Insidus]

David Ellison is very narcissistic and they don't want to be loser with businesses.

Netflix is playing smart - it means slow path to victory.

I don't think it will be complicated for Netflix to get approval in Europe as is in the US I mean is HBO Max that big of a brand there same goes with Netflix and hey some countries aren't that strict with such transactions. I mean if Canal+ had pay-tv operations in South Africa that deal with MultiChoice would definitely have been prohibited.

 

[Moe]

I don't think it will be complicated for Netflix to get approval in Europe as is in the US I mean is HBO Max that big of a brand there same goes with Netflix and hey some countries aren't that strict with such transactions. I mean if Canal+ had pay-tv operations in South Africa that deal with MultiChoice would definitely have been prohibited.

Oh yeah, European regulators are gentler than American regulators.

Just like EU regulator approved the Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard but definitely not American regulator as they tried to fight in the court, also the judge likely have favor/interest with Microsoft didn't help since judges are supposed to be impartial.

The conflict of interest has been a big issue for federal courts but not state courts because they have judge disciplinary agencies that can force the judge to rescue or face the sanction or removal from bench, however it is imperfect in some states like Alabama that require you to fight hard, so it is very time consuming and not worth if if it is dispute with small amount.

 

[Insidus]

Hopefully more details on this will make the rounds I wonder how Cartoon Network would be under Standard General or Starz Entertainment

Standard General Holds Talks Over Warner Bros. Discovery Cable TV Assets – FT

Hedge fund founder Soo Kim has held talks over buying into Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)'s TV networks, according to the Financial Times.

deadline.com

 

[zakawer2]

This is the official website for Netflix's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. (the studios and streaming division of Warner Bros. Discovery):

Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.

Netflix, Inc. today announced that it has declined to raise its offer for Warner Bros. Netflix had earlier received notice from Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) that its Board of Directors has determined Paramount Skydance's (PSKY) latest proposal constitutes a "Superior Proposal" under the terms of...

www.netflixwbtogether.com

And this is the official website for Paramount, a Skydance Corporation's planned acquisition of the entirety of Warner Bros. Discovery:

Paramount to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery | Building a Stronger Hollywood

Paramount to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, forming a next-generation global media company. 30+ films annually, full theatrical windows, HBO independence.

www.strongerhollywood.com

 

[Space Cadet]

Netflix finally acknowledged that they would get TCM in Canada and the U.S. if the deal goes through, so The Hollywood Reporter does some speculation on what might happen with the channel.

Netflix Would Get Turner Classic Movies in a Warner Bros. Deal, Too. What’s Its Plan?

The streaming giant discloses for the first time that it'll acquire the brand. What will it do with a basic cable channel?

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Also, Netflix said they'll go all-cash in purchasing WBD:

Netflix Goes All-Cash in Warner Bros. Bid as WBD Reveals What It Thinks Discovery Global Is Worth

WBD says that Discovery is worth as little as $1.33 per share to as much as $6.86 per share, depending on what you're looking at.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[Daikun]

Also, Netflix said they'll go all-cash in purchasing WBD:

Netflix Goes All-Cash in Warner Bros. Bid as WBD Reveals What It Thinks Discovery Global Is Worth

WBD says that Discovery is worth as little as $1.33 per share to as much as $6.86 per share, depending on what you're looking at.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

If this all-cash deal is approved, the board could vote on the sale as soon as April.

Netflix Upgrades Warner Bros. Deal to All Cash; Shareholders to Vote on $83 Billion Sale by April

Netflix agreed to change its $83 billion deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's studios and HBO Max business to all-cash, aimed at thwarting Paramount Skydance's rival takeover bid.

variety.com

 

[zakawer2]

Will discovery+ be relaunched by Discovery Global in Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain and Brazil after the WBD split is complete?

In these five countries, Warner Bros. Discovery closed it down entirely in favor of doubling-down heavily on HBO Max. But that might not have been an ideal strategy in the long term, considering discovery+ (and all of its many unscripted titles) is staying with Discovery Global post-split, while Warner Bros. (either as a subsidiary of Netflix or as an independent company) will only have the HBO Max service by itself.

 

[Moe]

Is Cartoon Network become dead network after WBD split when WB Studio & Streaming sold to Netflix? My answer is unlikely but it is more deadlier (much worst position) if it was sold to Skydance since Ellison is too incompetent to manage the overwhelming number of linear networks, so they didn't fix the issues with Paramount linear networks. Ellison is more care about have most legendary contents, make a political shame on CNN and more control with contents as taunt over political like diversity, so leaving CN as very deeper network decay, possibly spamming of TTG all day.

I'm not fan of M&A but there is no way to avoid, so I just see Netflix as palatable option over Skydance, so I don't want to hear about political drama that is stirred by Ellison family.

I don't means to hate Paramount, but I hate Ellison very, very, very much.

Will discovery+ be relaunched by Discovery Global in Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain and Brazil after the WBD split is complete?

In these five countries, Warner Bros. Discovery closed it down entirely in favor of doubling-down heavily on HBO Max. But that might not have been an ideal strategy in the long term, considering discovery+ (and all of its many unscripted titles) is staying with Discovery Global post-split, while Warner Bros. (either as a subsidiary of Netflix or as an independent company) will only have the HBO Max service by itself.

Not sure if Netflix will get Discovery studio and their libraries.

We only know that all linear networks but HBO and TCM will be spin off to Global Networks.

The part with TCM and HBO linear has been clarified last few days ago.

 

[zakawer2]

I'm pretty sure that literally everything that used to be with Discovery prior to the WBD merger will stay with Discovery Global, except that Discovery Global will also somehow inherit multiple assets (including multiple linear channels) that were previously owned by WarnerMedia prior to the WBD merger.

 

[Moe]

I'm pretty sure that literally everything that used to be with Discovery prior to the WBD merger will stay with Discovery Global, except that Discovery Global will also somehow inherit multiple linear channels that were previously owned by WarnerMedia prior to the WBD merger.

Some people said yes and others said no.

I rather to wait until it is clarify on ownership of Discovery libraries since I don't want to give a wrong information.

 

[zakawer2]

I genuinely don't see post-split Warner Bros. owning any assets inherited from pre-WBD merger Discovery at all, whereas post-split Discovery Global is expected to own all pre-merger Discovery assets, plus even more assets inherited from ex-WarnerMedia.

 

[GRPHX]

Is Cartoon Network become dead network after WBD split when WB Studio & Streaming sold to Netflix? My answer is unlikely but it is more deadlier (much worst position) if it was sold to Skydance since Ellison is too incompetent to manage the overwhelming number of linear networks, so they didn't fix the issues with Paramount linear networks. Ellison is more care about have most legendary contents, make a political shame on CNN and more control with contents as taunt over political like diversity, so leaving CN as very deeper network decay, possibly spamming of TTG all day.

I'm not fan of M&A but there is no way to avoid, so I just see Netflix as palatable option over Skydance, so I don't want to hear about political drama that is stirred by Ellison family.

I don't means to hate Paramount, but I hate Ellison very, very, very much.


Not sure if Netflix will get Discovery studio and their libraries.

We only know that all linear networks but HBO and TCM will be spin off to Global Networks.

The part with TCM and HBO linear has been clarified last few days ago.

My dear friend Moe. There's something that confuses me. How wide are these international networks' scope? What will happen to Pan-European or Pan-LatAm linear HBO networks, for example? I read the SEC document, but I couldn't find any specific details that mentioned it.

If we talk about the Discovery library and its assets, I do not think that any assets that Discovery had before the merger will be transferred to Netflix. It's likely even some shows like truTV's Hardcore Pawn will get Discovery as well.
Another thing I'm curious about is, if Linear HBO networks are going to switch to Netflix outside the US, how long will they continue to use the HBO brand?

 

[zakawer2]

I believe Netflix will indefinitely retain the HBO brand and the global HBO linear channels should they succeed in acquiring Warner Bros.

 

[GRPHX]

Brand will retain with Netflix but Neftlix really want to manage HBO's linear networks outside of the U.S.A.?

 

[Moe]

My dear friend Moe. There's something that confuses me. How wide are these international networks' scope? What will happen to Pan-European or Pan-LatAm linear HBO networks, for example? I read the SEC document, but I couldn't find any specific details that mentioned it.

Yeah, I'm very overwhelmed about whichever international HBO linear and other networks are staying with WBD Studio and Streaming or goes to Global Networks. They clarified with US version of HBO and TCM. My assumption that international HBO likely get same treatment.

If we talk about the Discovery library and its assets, I do not think that any assets that Discovery had before the merger will be transferred to Netflix. It's likely even some shows like truTV's Hardcore Pawn will get Discovery as well.

That is very possible for sure - same goes with South Beach Tow, Operation Repo, Lizard Lick Towing and other TruTV shows. Unscripted shows are very easy on linear network.

Another thing I'm curious about is, if Linear HBO networks are going to switch to Netflix outside the US, how long will they continue to use the HBO brand?

My guess that Netflix would rather to keep HBO and Cinemax as secondary market for linear networks, but HBO Max is likely to be absorbed into Netflix, or like Amazon keep Epix/ScreenPix as separate, Netflix may keep both separated as HBO Max would be more of linear with Netflix for general streaming.

WBD seem still make money with Cinemax, so shutdown is unlikely until it become unprofitable, so merge with HBO.

I believe Netflix will indefinitely retain the HBO brand and the global HBO linear channels should they succeed in acquiring Warner Bros.

That what I believe too.

Brand will retain with Netflix but Neftlix really want to manage HBO's linear networks outside of the U.S.A.?

Perhaps for sure.

 

[lynxeon]

I would distinct two different kind of international assets:
- Basic channels
- Premium channels

The first group (TCM channels) will obviously closed or licensed to Discovery Inc.

The second group (HBO channels) will have a similar fate. Netflix cannot maintain different teams controlling channels across the world. They are bundled with HBO Max so it makes no sense to be licensed to Discovery Inc. so my first choice for them would be closing them. My second choice would be convert them into FAST channels or worldwide channels as Paramount networks.

 

[harry580]

since people are talking about networks, but what about the international television studios of Warner bros (sure, those staying with discovery but you get the part), would netflix do a replacement of the old international television studios that bears the Warner bros name?

 

[GRPHX]

since people are talking about networks, but what about the international television studios of Warner bros (sure, those staying with discovery but you get the part), would netflix do a replacement of the old international television studios that bears the Warner bros name?

The real question to ask is, should Netflix and WB studios be merged like Disney's ABC and 20th studios?

 

[Moe]

The real question to ask is, should Netflix and WB studios be merged like Disney's ABC and 20th studios?

Disney treat Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm (Star Wars), Nat Geo, ESPN and 20th Century as separate companies under Disney umbrella.

WB is just absorbed most companies like Hanna-Barbera, Lorimar, Ruby-Spears, New Line Cinema and others into WB.

I do think Netflix is going to keep WB brand for studios and their movies.

 

[harry580]

so, If you think this way, netflix is the new Warner premiere/Warner max/Warner independent pictures/fine line pictures/picturehouse

and for the record, new line cinema still exists but its home video & television divisions aint