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 …
Discussion:
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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’
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The Wrap, wga.org, Boardroom, @sharonwaxman, The A.V. Club, Digital Music News, Deadline, Forbes, mxdwn Television, The Wrap, TVNewsCheck, Screen, Screen Rant, The Hollywood Reporter, Mediaite and Deadline
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, SiliconANGLE, Paula Seligson on LinkedIn, Fortune and Inc.com, more at Techmeme »
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:
The Wrap, Benzinga, Forbes, @mattgaetz, @berniesanders, @rogermarshallmd, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, @editorialboard.bsky.social, CNBC, Reason, Bloomberg, Notable early reaction …, The Guardian, Consequence, Newsmax, Observer, CampaignUs, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren …, Variety, Channel NewsAsia, mxdwn Television, Silicon Valley Business … and Blockchain.News
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:
Mirror US, The Beat, Deadline, Kotaku, TheDesk.net, Engadget, Variety, PocketGamer.biz, Metro.co.uk, Game Informer, Aftermath, Dexerto, Gizmodo, Forbes, MobileSyrup, Marketing Dive, CGMagazine, @matpiscatella.bsky.social, @knoebel.bsky.social, @wario64.bsky.social and @kerrblimey.bsky.social, 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:
TVBEurope, The Wrap, @variety, Forrester, TrekMovie.com, The Ankler, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, Proactiveinvestors UK, The Times, SFist, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, New York Post, New Jersey Online, CNBC, Benzinga, MediaPost, The Streamable, Marketing Brew, RNZ, Livemint, Mobile World Live, masslive.com, BMI and Distractify
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:
Decider, CNN, Bloomberg, No Film School, /Film, Vulture, MakeUseOf, @mgsiegler, Den of Geek, Forbes, @laurenshirsch, The Bulwark, Vanity Fair, The Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Deadline, Associated Press, The Ankler, Variety, Associated Press, CNBC, The Verge, Boston.com, Mashable, Inc, World of Reel 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, World of Reel, @cgasparino, @sherman4949, Business Insider, @mikeisaac, International Business Times, Bloomberg, @laurenshirsch, Screen, @maxwelltani, @elonmusk, @lauraloomer, @danprimack, Washington Examiner, @modestproposal1, Variety, @loudmouthjulia, @laurenshirsch, @sharonwaxman and Business Insider, more at Techmeme »
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”
Netflix says it “expects to maintain Warner Bros.' theatrical releases for films” but “the windows will evolve to be much more consumer friendly”
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:
MediaNews4U, Los Angeles Times, Variety, The Guardian, Deadline, The Sun, Inverse, Den of Geek 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, CBC News, Breitbart, Deadline, Fortune, Press Association, Media Play News, @chrisblue.bsky.social, Truth on the Market, Variety, Common Dreams, ZeroHedge News, @digitalhit.com, @jbflint, @tdogmedia.bsky.social, @markruffalo.bsky.social, @philthepill.online, @theankler.skystack.xyz, @jessicapancakes.bsky.social, Bloomberg, @timkarr.bsky.social and @labuzamovies.com
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 …
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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, Cracked.com, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, @status.news and CNBC
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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 …
Discussion:
CNN, Wall Street Journal, @willmckinley.bsky.social, Axios, Deadline, Financial Times, DiscussingFilm, Washington Post, Slate, @dylanbyers, The Wrap, Puck, @devonheinen.bsky.social, @jbillinson@threads.com, TVNewsCheck, Benzinga, India Today, @timkarr.bsky.social, Bloomberg Law, Business Insider, The Indian Express, AdExchanger, The American Bazaar, New York Post and Awful Announcing
Humeyra Pamuk / Reuters:
The Trump administration orders enhanced vetting of H-1B applicants and their families for past work in “censorship”, including fact-checking and online safety — The Trump administration on Wednesday announced increased vetting of applicants for H-1B visas for highly skilled workers …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Tech Policy Press, MS NOW, Mercury News, Semafor, The National Pulse, Reclaim The Net and Talking Points Memo, more at Techmeme »
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
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:
Victoria Diana Baranetsky on LinkedIn and @columjournreview.bsky.social
