WBD Acquisition Thread

[JulianRO]

Does HBO Max offer the streaming of the TV channels?

If I'm not mistaken, no, they don't have.

 

[zakawer2]

If I'm not mistaken, no, they don't have.

Actually, they do. It depends on what market you live in, and you might need a higher subscription plan in order for it to work.

 

[JulianRO]

I forgot to refresh the page, I did see your answer after posting mine's first (for some reason, a new reply appears only after refresh)

In RO, they don't offer any sort of TV channels, and even Discovery+ doesn't exist.

 

[RandomMe]

Does HBO Max offer the streaming of the TV channels? If not, it's not viable in Italy and in UK, as D+ hosts the streams for their FTA channels.
I wouldn't be surprised if the same happens in Germany and the Nordics.

I don't know

 

[zakawer2]

I forgot to refresh the page, I did see your answer after posting mine's first (for some reason, a new reply appears only after refresh)

In RO, they don't offer any sort of TV channels, and even Discovery+ doesn't exist.

Yeah, not all markets actually get live channels on HBO Max (excluding sports offerings).

 

[awinger24]

David Ellison wants this close in July. We have to hurry otherwise WB dies forever.

 

[JulianRO]

"We"? We don't have to hurry for nothing, the authorities actually should hurry up.

 

[RandomMe]

David Ellison wants this close in July. We have to hurry otherwise WB dies forever.

There likely won't be enough time

 

[awinger24]

There likely won't be enough time

Well, WB is fully doomed for real. RIP WB, RIP Looney Tunes as everything is erased for tax write offs. Hello King Ellison. More Melania movies and Apprentice esque TV shows in the works.

 

[Michael Hernandez]

Well, WB is fully doomed for real. RIP WB, RIP Looney Tunes as everything is erased for tax write offs. Hello King Ellison. More Melania movies and Apprentice esque TV shows in the works.

You need to stop doomposting and fearmongering about the fate of WB and Looney Tunes.

 

[awinger24]

You need to stop doomposting and fearmongering about the fate of WB and Looney Tunes.

Well, I still hope this merger gets blocked and sued. Ellison is trying to rush to get it done in July.

 

[JulianRO]

Senate Democrats Implore FCC Chair to Conduct ‘Rigorous’ Review of Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Foreign Investment: Deal ‘Raises National Security Alarms’

Several Democratic senators are again urging the FCC to not rubber-stamp Paramount Skydance's proposed $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery -- citing concerns over foreign investors, including Middle Eastern wealth funds, that are backing the pact.

variety.com

One more problem added to Ellison's list.

 

[lowell]

It's yet another point against discovery+, which genuinely is starting to become less and less necessary for WBD to continue operating and maintaining in Europe—merger or no merger…

The only thing that could force a discovery+ revitalization at this point would be if WBD returns to its original plans to split into Warner Bros. and Discovery Global, since Warner Bros. would retain the HBO Max service while Discovery Global would be left with discovery+.

Yeah, there would be just more savings garnered if Discovery+'s entirely absorbed by HBO Max because in addition to a one-time boost from those migrated subscribers, the tech operation costs will go down and centered on only one main DTC platform.

Zaslav & Wiedenfels can use those savings towards paying down the debt load while they continue HBO Max's international expansion.

 

[JulianRO]

Similar to the US, now the European movie industry also asks for the EU to block the PSKY-WBD acquisition:

https://www.ft.com/content/22f06eb7-d8d7-41ec-bf8e-a4da888b42d2?syn-25a6b1a6=1

 

[lowell]

Similar to the US, now the European movie industry also asks for the EU to block the PSKY-WBD acquisition:

https://www.ft.com/content/22f06eb7-d8d7-41ec-bf8e-a4da888b42d2?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Actually, their letter is formally asking for a thorough investigation to be done but yeah, it also counts as opposition for Ellison at this point:

"European film and audiovisual groups have urged EU regulators to subject Paramount Skydance’s $111bn takeover of Warner Bros Discovery to a thorough competition investigation, warning the deal could damage cultural diversity, weaken independent production and entrench the dominance of US entertainment giants.

The letter, sent to members of the European Commission, the European parliament and several national delegations in the EU Council and seen by the FT, is one of the first clear signs of international opposition to the Hollywood merger.

It called for “a thorough investigation by European competition authorities” especially an assessment of “multiple impacts across the entire European audiovisual and cinematographic ecosystem”.

Signatories include organisations representing directors, screenwriters and authors as well as cinemas. The Society of Audiovisual Authors, which manages the rights for more than 177,000 film, TV and multimedia European screenwriters and directors in 26 countries, has signed the letter. The International Union of Cinemas, with members in 34 countries, has also signed it.

“The future of the European industry cannot rely solely on broad promises,” the signatories wrote, warning that pressure to service the merged company’s debt burden could lead to cost-cutting measures that could hit local production in Europe.

They call on European authorities to ensure “meaningful, legally binding and enforceable commitments designed to protect the whole value chain”, arguing safeguarding cultural diversity and media pluralism should remain a priority for the EU."

 

[JulianRO]

Actually, their letter is formally asking for a thorough investigation to be done but yeah, it also counts as opposition for Ellison at this point:

Yeah, for some reason I read in a hurry sometimes. My bad.

 

[lowell]

Yeah, for some reason I read in a hurry sometimes. My bad.

Ellison doesn't want more light to shine on his pursuit, that's why he just asked FCC to give pre-approval so he can boost equity and voting stakes for the Middle East wealth funds and other financial partners in the future.

The more Skydance hides these financial details, the dirtier they look. They were not ashamed to hide all the payouts & loans sent under the table for control of National Amusements.

All the news sites pushing the PR attacks for them against other suitors knew all about those sweetheart bonuses the Redstones ultimately got. That's why Paramount Global's non-Redstone investors are still taking them, the Ellisons, and RedBird to court right now.

 

[awinger24]

Paramount Assembles Legal Team to Defend Warner Bros. Deal

PSKY gets Jeffrey Kessler as their antitrust lawyer. Is the merger going to get fast tracked to July or September now?

 

[lowell]

Paramount Assembles Legal Team to Defend Warner Bros. Deal

PSKY gets Jeffrey Kessler as their antitrust lawyer. Is the merger going to get fast tracked to July or September now?

No, but Ellison isn't known to prepare things with contingencies. Even with hiring a legal weapon in Trump admin official Makan Delrahim, he thought that was enough but now suddenly he's expanding his legal team.

And that's still with Skydance thinking no legal challenges will brought against them at all. This is all Ellison making last-minute decisions.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

@lowell You know about someone named Jesse T. White over on Reddit and X, right? He always keeps saying that the Paramount/Warner merger will go through, just because his logic is focused on the rules of antitrust and economics, like "Where’s the monopoly in the merger?" and "The merger is below 30% market threshold to be scrutinized" and stuff like that, and it annoys me.