Top News:
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Netflix agrees to acquire WBD's studios and streaming business in an $82.7B cash-and-stock deal, including debt, to close after WBD splits in two in Q3 2026 — As part of the deal, WBD will continue with plan to spin off its cable television networks — Netflix has agreed an $83bn takeover …
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Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Documents and source: WBD CEO David Zaslav's stock in WBD would be worth close to $660M if the Netflix deal closes — This isn't exactly what David Ellison had planned in September. — Just a few months ago, the Paramount Skydance CEO sent a letter to the Warner Bros. Discovery board …
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CNN, Wall Street Journal, DiscussingFilm, The Wrap, Business Insider, Washington Post, Puck, The American Bazaar, @willmckinley.bsky.social, Axios, Deadline, Financial Times, @timkarr.bsky.social, New York Times, The Indian Express, Slate, @dylanbyers, AdExchanger, @devonheinen.bsky.social, TVNewsCheck, Bloomberg Law, Benzinga, Just The News, TV Tech, New York Post, Awful Announcing and The Hollywood Reporter
Variety:
The WGA, which routinely opposes media mergers, says the Netflix-WBD deal must be blocked, and the Producers and Directors guilds express concern over the deal — SAG-AFTRA says proposed pact raises ‘serious questions about its impact on the future of the entertainment industry’
Discussion:
@sharonwaxman, Mediaite, Boardroom, Forbes, The Wrap, The A.V. Club, wga.org, mxdwn Television, The Hollywood Reporter, Digital Music News, Screen, Deadline, TVNewsCheck, Screen Rant, The Wrap and Deadline
Jody Godoy / Reuters:
Congressional Democrats and Republicans criticize the Netflix-WBD deal, saying it would raise streaming subscription prices and lessen workers' pay and control — Netflix (NFLX.O) pitched its $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery's studios and streaming divisionas aligned …
Discussion:
Forbes, The Wrap, Reuters, Fortune, Channel NewsAsia, @mattgaetz, @berniesanders, @rogermarshallmd, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Consequence, CampaignUs, Variety, @editorialboard.bsky.social, CNBC, Reason, Notable early reaction …, Observer, Blockchain.News and Silicon Valley Business …
Chris Kerr / Game Developer:
WBD confirms that Warner Bros. Games will be acquired by Netflix along with its wider streaming and television business — A Warner Bros. spokesperson has confirmed the video game division will be acquired by Netflix alongside its wider streaming and television business.
Discussion:
The Beat, Variety, TheDesk.net, PocketGamer.biz, Gizmodo, Kotaku, Engadget, Dexerto, Aftermath, Game Informer, Metro.co.uk, MobileSyrup, Marketing Dive, CGMagazine, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, iPhone in Canada, Thurrott, Decode TV, Business Insider, @matpiscatella.bsky.social, Nintendo Life, @knoebel.bsky.social, @wario64.bsky.social and @kerrblimey.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
Bloomberg:
Netflix secured $59B in bridge financing from Wells Fargo, BNP Paribas, and HSBC for its WBD bid, one of the largest loans of its kind; Wells' share is $29.5B — Netflix Inc. has lined up $59 billion of financing from Wall Street banks to help support its planned $72 billion acquisition …
Discussion:
Financial Times, Inc.com, SiliconANGLE, Fortune and Paula Seligson on LinkedIn, more at Techmeme »
Katie Campione / Deadline:
SAG-AFTRA puts off taking a position on the Netflix-WBD deal but says a deal benefiting its members “must result in more creation and more production, not less” — Instead, the guild says the potential transaction “raises many serious questions” that leadership expects to have answered.
Discussion:
The Ankler, TVBEurope, TrekMovie.com, Forrester, New Jersey Online, SFist, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, The Wrap, Proactiveinvestors UK, Marketing Brew, @variety, CNBC, The Streamable, New York Post, MediaPost, Al Jazeera, RNZ, Benzinga, Livemint, Business Insider, Mobile World Live, masslive.com, BMI, Distractify, The Times, PCWorld and Irish Examiner
Tony Maglio / The Hollywood Reporter:
Netflix says it “expects to maintain Warner Bros.' theatrical releases for films” but “the windows will evolve to be much more consumer friendly” — Now that that's settled... Netflix just solidified itself as the leading entertainment company (and then some), and all it cost was $83 billion.
Nicole Sperling / New York Times:
Netflix's WBD bid marks a striking strategy shift for a company long known for pivots, especially after years of avoiding full commitment to theatrical releases
Discussion:
/Film, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg, CNN, Inc, Decider, Associated Press, CNBC, Associated Press, Mashable, No Film School, The Boston Globe, Boston.com, Vulture, MakeUseOf, Variety, @mgsiegler, Den of Geek, Forbes, @laurenshirsch, The Ankler, Deadline, San Francisco Chronicle, The Bulwark, World of Reel, Screen, Screen Rant and Spyglass, more at Techmeme »
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
A look at the uphill battle to win regulatory approval for Netflix's acquisition of WBD, and the roles of the US DOJ, EU regulators, and state attorneys general
A look at the uphill battle to win regulatory approval for Netflix's acquisition of WBD, and the roles of the US DOJ, EU regulators, and state attorneys general
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, @cgasparino, International Business Times, Washington Examiner, Variety, @sherman4949, @mikeisaac, Bloomberg, @laurenshirsch, Screen, @maxwelltani, @elonmusk, @lauraloomer, @danprimack, @modestproposal1, @loudmouthjulia, @laurenshirsch, @sharonwaxman, Business Insider and Media Play News, more at Techmeme »
Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:
A European theater owners group says Netflix's Warner Bros. acquisition “represents a double risk” of fewer films being produced and getting theatrical releases
A European theater owners group says Netflix's Warner Bros. acquisition “represents a double risk” of fewer films being produced and getting theatrical releases
Discussion:
Variety, Deadline, Los Angeles Times, The Sun, The Guardian, Den of Geek, Forbes, Inverse and Business Insider
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
Netflix CEOs say the WBD deal won't fail because “we understand these assets that we're buying” and they're not buying to compensate for business deterioration
Netflix CEOs say the WBD deal won't fail because “we understand these assets that we're buying” and they're not buying to compensate for business deterioration
Jane Fonda / The Ankler:
Jane Fonda warns that a WBD merger in any form is an alarming escalation in media consolidation, threatening the entertainment industry and the First Amendment
Jane Fonda warns that a WBD merger in any form is an alarming escalation in media consolidation, threatening the entertainment industry and the First Amendment
Discussion:
Pressing Issues, CNBC, Deadline, Variety, Breitbart, Fortune, @chrisblue.bsky.social, Common Dreams, Truth on the Market, Press Association, Media Play News, ZeroHedge News, @digitalhit.com, @jbflint, @tdogmedia.bsky.social, @markruffalo.bsky.social, @philthepill.online, @theankler.skystack.xyz, @jessicapancakes.bsky.social, @timkarr.bsky.social, @labuzamovies.com and Bloomberg
Isabella Simonetti / Wall Street Journal:
Vanity Fair and Olivia Nuzzi agree to part ways and let her contract expire at the end of the year, following new allegations about her affair with RFK Jr. — Nuzzi joined the magazine as an editor earlier this year — Vanity Fair and Olivia Nuzzi have agreed to part ways following …
Discussion:
Business Insider, Politico, Washington Post, Mediaite, @bryancurtis, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, RADAR, New York Daily News, @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social, @alexshultz.bsky.social, Blaze Media, @bselena.bsky.social, New York Post, DNYUZ, Newser, The Independent, @joshsternberg.com, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, Northeastern Global News, The Hill, @davelevitan.bsky.social, @mbkplus.bsky.social, @ericmgarcia.bsky.social, @zeeshanaleem.bsky.social, The Wrap, The National Pulse and r/Journalism
Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post:
Sources: Forbes has cut ties with dozens of contributing writers; one exec said Forbes needs to ensure the contributor model is “financially sound” — Forbes abruptly cut ties with dozens of contributing writers this week — sparking outrage and confusion among the rank and file …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News
Oliver Darcy / Status:
Sources: David Ellison's interference in WBD's failed summer talks to extend HBO Max's South Park licensing deal left David Zaslav distrustful of Ellison — Over the summer, David Zaslav was deep in negotiations with Paramount over “South Park,” hoping to extend HBO Max's licensing deal for the popular program.
Discussion:
BBC, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, @status.news, Cracked.com, CNBC and @lorak.bsky.social
Liam Scott / Columbia Journalism Review:
A look at the First Amendment Watch's SLAPP Back Initiative, a US SLAPP tracker; in 2024, 69 of 500 cases involved the media, of which 46 were dismissed — As Donald Trump tests the limits of anti-press litigation, a new initiative aims to document the wave of nuisance suits.
Discussion:
@columjournreview.bsky.social and Victoria Diana Baranetsky on LinkedIn
