WBD Acquisition Thread

[RandomMe]

The channels are still broadcasting in Ukraine, as I checked on the platforms’ website.

It's another issue though. I wasn't talking about the actual channels.

 

[J10]

It's another issue though. I wasn't talking about the actual channels.

You’re right! That means they preferred to have the dubbed programs and movies aired on local channels.

 

[RandomMe]

You’re right! That means they preferred to have the dubbed programs and movies aired on local channels.

Yeah, if the channels are still in Russian, it's a legacy default, otherwise the English audio track seems more likely.

(Especially since CN CEE has had problems dubbing its output to Russian as of late)

 

[harry580]

awinger24 is gonna blow a gasket (and I don't blame him for it)

 

[JulianRO]

Not that related, but looks like WBD now wants to pay even more from its short-term debt, now it wants to pay $15 billion:

Warner boosts loan sale again, plans to repay US$15 billion bridge

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. boosted a loan sale for a second time, allowing them to replace US$15 billion of short-term financing. Read here

financialpost.com

 

[Elijah Abrams]

I think the EU hasn't had its say yet

No, it hasn’t.

 

[RandomMe]

No, it hasn’t.

Yeah, usually the EU takes a while.

 

[JulianRO]

According to Reuters (who cites the source from Semafor), the U.S. Department of Justice seems ready to approve the PSKY-WBD acquisition:

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-regulators-appear-ready-approve-paramounts-takeover-warner-bros-semafor-2026-05-27/

For now, treat this with a grain of salt.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

According to Reuters (who cites the source from Semafor), the U.S. Department of Justice seems ready to approve the PSKY-WBD acquisition:

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-regulators-appear-ready-approve-paramounts-takeover-warner-bros-semafor-2026-05-27/

For now, treat this with a grain of salt.

Promising that the merger won’t hurt other studios and creative talent, along with committing to more theatrical films, is not enough to warrant an approval. There needs to be more than that.

 

[lowell]

According to Reuters (who cites the source from Semafor), the U.S. Department of Justice seems ready to approve the PSKY-WBD acquisition:

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-regulators-appear-ready-approve-paramounts-takeover-warner-bros-semafor-2026-05-27/

For now, treat this with a grain of salt.

The meeting with David Ellison & his Skydance lieutenants is a formality because the Trump DOJ is ultimately serving at the behest of the admin.

If those nonpublic staff attorneys refused to do the WH's bidding at all, the acting AG, who's angling for the nomination will be ushering them out the door.

It all comes down to Larry visiting or calling up the Oval Office every time David throws a tantrum.

But I suppose this is why the consumer lawsuit against Skydance's WarnerDiscovery pursuit is now adding the extra argument of David getting favorable regulatory treatment in exchange for the Trump admin getting favorable media coverage:

"The third is more unusual. Alioto is specifically targeting the proposed consolidation of CBS News and CNN, an issue that’s already rattling media and political circles.

From a traditional antitrust standpoint, however, this may prove the weakest part of the case. The complaint doesn’t even attempt to quantify the companies’ combined share of the national-news market. Moreover, courts historically have been reluctant to treat diminished editorial independence or viewpoint concentration as conventional antitrust harms.

But Alioto appears to be nudging the law toward the theory that media consolidation can reduce not merely price competition but diversity of reporting and public discourse itself. It’s a provocative argument. It is also one that risks pushing judges into realms bordering media regulation and the First Amendment, where courts tend to tread very cautiously.

Not coincidentally, this is also where the case becomes openly political. Alioto’s preliminary-injunction motion explicitly raises the specter that favorable regulatory treatment may be intertwined with favorable media coverage, an allegation that pushes the merger fight beyond ordinary competition analysis and directly into the bloodstream of Trump-era media paranoia.

Notably, Paramount appears eager to lean into that framing, with Kessler blasting Alioto’s complaint as “baseless” and relying on “political scaremongering.” Expect more of the same, with Paramount continuing to frame its opponents as politically motivated actors. The plaintiffs, in turn, will have to persuade the court that the politics are incidental and that market power is the point."

What I’m Hearing: Ellison Trust-Busting & OpenAI Settlement Precedents

Matthew Belloni Hello and welcome back to the Tuesday edition of What I’m Hearing, piloted by legal expert Eriq Gardner. Now that Paramount has selected its lead antitrust litigator, a showdown with state attorneys general over the pending WarnerMount merger seems imminent, and Eriq has a timely...

puck.news

Even with every legal argument possible being used, this is also why I don't put all bets on just the court system itself at the end of the day.

There could also be some chance of the financing entirely collapsing due to Oracle being dragged on a painful financial roller coaster by OpenAI after a possible popping of the AI stock bubble combined with the Middle Eastern wealth funds pulling out their money if the U.S.'s regional war escalates further.

 

[awinger24]

If the DOJ approves it by July, say goodbye to Warner Bros., Warner Archive and everything forever. They have to hurry and block the merger now.

Ellison is going to fast track it without any consideration from the EU.

 

[JulianRO]

I don't want to sound mean but it seems for me that you are overreacting too much.

 

[JulianRO]

Mate, calm down. Take a deep breath and go outside. Life doesn't resume at a simple acquisition.

 

[awinger24]

Mate, calm down. Take a deep breath and go outside. Life doesn't resume at a simple acquisition.

Melania sequel and Rush Hour cinematic universe in the works! David Ellison will consolidate. Warner Archive will shut down forever. Paramount+ is their future. RIP physical media.

DOJ officially approves merger! Ellison now owns Warner Bros and cancels AND erases Looney Tunes

Block the merger, this is bad. Help!

 

[RandomMe]

I mean, it's not going to be like Disney and TCF

 

[zakawer2]

Melania sequel and Rush Hour cinematic universe in the works! David Ellison will consolidate. Warner Archive will shut down forever. Paramount+ is their future. RIP physical media.

DOJ officially approves merger! Ellison now owns Warner Bros and CANCELS AND ERASES LOONEY TUNES!

Block the merger, this is bad. Help! HELP!

Just go pick up a new personal interest that isn't Looney Tunes. How about Nintendo?

 

[JulianRO]

Disney and 21CF wasn't that bad, to be honest. But still, as bad as these acquisitions can be there will always be periods when the companies will become vibrant again.

Remember how it was after Time Warner separated from AOL in 2009.

 

[awinger24]

Just go pick up a new personal interest that isn't Looney Tunes. How about Nintendo?

It’s not just that. It’s physical media and Warner archive! WB Is probably the last company worthy of any good 4K, Blu-Ray or DVD release. Everything is going to go out of print.

 

[JulianRO]

ITS PHYSICAL MEDIA

I don't want to be a mini-mod but reduce your usage of Caps Lock, it is also against forum rules.

Leaving that behind, I never owned any WBD contents on physical media. I don't even care about it, considering also it's not popular in my country too.

 

[awinger24]

I don't want to be a mini-mod but reduce your usage of Caps Lock, it is also against forum rules.

Leaving that behind, I never owned any WBD contents on physical media. I don't even care about it, considering also it's not popular in my country too.

Alright. I just feel that David Ellison is going to ignore the UK and European Commission. He wants to get the merger done by July so his current ties can stay.