25 votes

Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount’s offer is deemed superior

11 comments

  1. [3]
    derekiscool
    Link
    Whelp, this is incrediblely disappointing. Another giant media corporation soon-to-be directly controlled by a far-right billionaire family. Time to cancel HBO...

    Whelp, this is incrediblely disappointing. Another giant media corporation soon-to-be directly controlled by a far-right billionaire family. Time to cancel HBO...

    21 votes
    1. [2]
      Akir
      Link Parent
      Between this and the general enshittification of steaming platforms, it really does feel like the invisible hand of the marketplace is pushing people towards piracy.

      Between this and the general enshittification of steaming platforms, it really does feel like the invisible hand of the marketplace is pushing people towards piracy.

      9 votes
      1. derekiscool
        Link Parent
        It really does. Totally unrelated, but I just bought a 5TB HDD and downloaded BitTorrent for the first time in over a decade

        It really does. Totally unrelated, but I just bought a 5TB HDD and downloaded BitTorrent for the first time in over a decade

        9 votes
  2. ogre
    Link
    The best thing you can do for your community is educate them on pirating media

    The best thing you can do for your community is educate them on pirating media

    9 votes
  3. [2]
    thereticent
    Link
    Well damn. They're just buying the media, glob by glob.

    Well damn. They're just buying the media, glob by glob.

    8 votes
    1. Narry
      Link Parent
      That's the plan. They're aiming to acquire both CNN and HBO in one fell swoop. We should get some beautifully spicy takes about "New Business Daddy" from John Oliver.

      That's the plan. They're aiming to acquire both CNN and HBO in one fell swoop. We should get some beautifully spicy takes about "New Business Daddy" from John Oliver.

      9 votes
  4. [3]
    moocow1452
    Link
    The going cope is that Paramount already overextended with the Skydance merger and taking on Warner would mean saddle it with debt that it doesn't have a good way of paying off, plus the breakup...

    The going cope is that Paramount already overextended with the Skydance merger and taking on Warner would mean saddle it with debt that it doesn't have a good way of paying off, plus the breakup fee means that Warner Bros gets hot potatoed again in a few years. I'm not entirely sure if that logic holds up, but the brand is kinda cursed and if the AI bubble pops, Oracle goes with it, so it seems feasible enough to me that it falls apart.

    7 votes
    1. raze2012
      Link Parent
      I thought the big issue here was with Kushner? From my understanding, Paramount literally doesn't have this money, so Saudi is pitching in to fund this. Which would bring in other complications...

      I thought the big issue here was with Kushner? From my understanding, Paramount literally doesn't have this money, so Saudi is pitching in to fund this. Which would bring in other complications from the FCC over a foriegn takeover of an american broadcasting network (CNN in particular, for this case).

      1 vote
  5. [2]
    balooga
    Link
    What I wouldn't give to hear the conversations these people have been having in private. You know WB was probably taking calls from Trump himself to pressure them into this. This whole saga is...

    What I wouldn't give to hear the conversations these people have been having in private. You know WB was probably taking calls from Trump himself to pressure them into this. This whole saga is shady from top to bottom.

    2 votes
    1. Jona37an
      Link Parent
      While I suspect you’re right, I think there’s at least some “on the other hand…” here. The Discovery Global part of the business could have wound up being a tough sell, especially if no one was...

      While I suspect you’re right, I think there’s at least some “on the other hand…” here. The Discovery Global part of the business could have wound up being a tough sell, especially if no one was privately calling about (wild conjecture on my part). Getting within the ballpark for both pieces may have been more appealing than dragging it out. Netflix didn’t need it, but Paramount’s desperation may have given concessions not made public (more wild conjecture). We have Paramount+, and it mostly stinks. They need something to get competitive.

      Now, the politics part is a whole other thing. I do think there’s shadiness involved (who knows how much). I also, however, think that David wants more toys in his toybox and daddy is willing to buy them.

      3 votes