like the Ed Sullivan Theater, and either the WB or Paramount lots if not both
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WB+Netflix=$82.7 billion shocker!
- Thread starter only1moore
- Start date
With the amount of debt, "zombie" assets (many declining cable channels), and streaming, I don't see a scenario where this doesn't collapse from its own weight.
WB has gone through a succession of owners since the 60s..each of them thinking it was a winning move.
Will Matt Stone and Trey Park make a movie for WB employees?
And where did you get your MBA from to so quickly analyze this deal?
Usually a company that's close to going out of business or is bleeding money can't just take on a second company with similar problems and expect an upward trajectory. Disney was able to absorb Fox because it was financially stable and was a much cleaner sale. I can't wrap my head around this going well.
There are countless people with MBAs that have run companies into the ground. Holding that degree does not make you immune to being a complete screwup.
A mixture of an MBA with extreme hubris can be a fatal combination for any business.
However in today’s business climate it is often more profitable to destroy a company than have it actually succeed and prosper.
In this case, the writing's on the wall more than in most cases. Paramount isn't doing well in any facet of their business...their streaming service is subscale in viewers and lost money last quarter, their cable networks are struggling, their box office doesn't really even release a lot of movies, and the only steady thing is CBS itself and maybe FAST. Its not rocket science to see a future collapse coming. It would be like if Blockbuster did this sort of thing in like 2007.
Blockbuster did try to buy Hollywood Video
Ms. Rice made an awful decision to call attention to herself by making strident and inflammatory remarks on a podcast. While that is certainly her right, to do so while a member of a Board that is involved in a sensitive takeover proposal that would require the blessing of regulators displayed, at a minimum, horrible judgment. Her actions may have well been what led Netflix to conclude that it was pointless for them to increase their bid.
She won't be axed from the Board now, but will very possibly not be renominated for another term when that time comes.
Her opinions are popular with the Hollywood creative community. At the end of the day, Ellison is going to have to work with a lot of people who don't like him. If they choose not to work with him, it can benefit his competitors. So while he may now own two big studios, he will once again face the "culture clash" he's experiencing with CBS News. That's not always good for business.
Here's the key quote from Susan Rice on the Preet Bharara podcast:
Suggesting the law will be upheld isn't strident or inflammatory and exercising her right to free speech isn't an awful decision or horrible judgement. And no government that isn't engaging in bribery or extortion should find her comments concerning in any way.
IF those comments could interfere with government approval of a deal, it pretty ****ing well proves her point.
Full story:
Suggesting the law will be upheld isn't strident or inflammatory and exercising her right to free speech isn't an awful decision or horrible judgement. And no government that isn't engaging in bribery or extortion should find her comments concerning in any way.
IF those comments could interfere with government approval of a deal, it pretty ****ing well proves her point.
Full story:
And soon enough she'll likely be free of being on any corporate boards or having any real responsibility, so she'll be free to express those opinions without consequence.
Really? What consequence has she faced as a result of this?
Netflix didn't need WBD. However, they managed to get Ellison to pay a lot more than he intended. General Patton would be pleased.
Looks like Paramount Global got help…
variety.com
Paramount’s $111 Billion Warner Bros. Deal Backed by Arab Sovereign Funds Raises Soft Power Concerns
Paramount's $111 billion Warner Bros. deal is backed by $24 billion from Arab Sovereign funds, raising concerns over influence and media independence.
variety.com
She has faced nothing as of yet, but her invitations to be part of corporate boards are likely to dry up. I'd say her reputation took a further hit, but there is only so low that one can be regarded. It was Netflix that bore this consequence, with a loss of a deal they regarded as strategic and necessary to their future. I suppose they deserved to bear the consequence as they chose to nominate such an incompetent director.
I'm sure she doesn't give a rats behind. Companies put people like her on their boards for their opinions. Hers are well known. She's written books, and she does lots of interviews. What she said was the truth, and a lot of people agree with her. Especially people in the creative community. The president is mad because he knows what she said was the truth. It's why he'll do anything he can, including cancel the 2026 election, to prevent what she said from happening.
I disagree completely with that. PSKY needed this deal far more. That's why they were willing to overpay. Netflix made that happen. Otherwise PSKY would have paid a whole lot less. I don't think any Netflix stockholders were rooting for their company to get this deal. In the end, the Ellisons overpaid, and also had to pay Netflix a $2.8 billion cancelation fee. That is money in the bank. They can use that money to buy anything they want, or just distribute it to stockholders. As I said earlier, General Patton would have approved.
This story basically confirms my view:
Ted Sarandos on Netflix Nixing Warner Bros. Bid, Trump’s Role and Dialogue With Theaters
The co-CEO pulled back the curtain on the stunning events of the past week that led to David Ellison prevailing with a sweetened $111 billion deal to merge two of Hollywood's last remaining legacy studios.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
Last edited:
Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow
Ambassador Susan E. Rice served President Barack Obama as National Security Advisor and U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In her role as National Secu...
www.american.edu
Looks like Paramount Global got help…
Paramount’s $111 Billion Warner Bros. Deal Backed by Arab Sovereign Funds Raises Soft Power Concerns
Paramount's $111 billion Warner Bros. deal is backed by $24 billion from Arab Sovereign funds, raising concerns over influence and media independence.
If so, foreign ownership rules should apply:
Brendan Carr made a big deal about these foreign ownership rules during the Audacy bankruptcy. He claims Audacy somehow received a "Soros shortcut" that allowed them to bypass foreign ownership review. Will he bring that up with this deal?
It's being reported that the president bought about $1.25 million in debt from Netflix on the day the company withdraw from bidding on WBD. So in addition to the $2.6 billion cancellation fee, Netflix also received another $1.25 million. Not bad for doing nothing.
www.aol.com
www.hollywoodreporter.com
One might wonder if such a thing is legal. It probably is. But who is going to tell this president what to do?
Donald Trump Reportedly Bought Netflix Debt Amid Paramount’s Fight for Warner Bros. - AOL
US President Donald Trump has reportedly added more Netflix bonds to his investment portfolio. The purchases came amid intense corporate maneuvering, as Paramount pursued Warner Bros. Discovery. Netflix briefly entered the fray before backing away from a potential deal. Donald Trump buys Netflix...
www.aol.com
Trump Bought Netflix Debt Amid Paramount’s Fight for Warner Bros.
New financial disclosures released Wednesday show that the President acquired Netflix bonds as Paramount was trying to pry WBD away from the streaming giant.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
One might wonder if such a thing is legal. It probably is. But who is going to tell this president what to do?