They were going up regardless.
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WB+Netflix=$82.7 billion shocker!
- Thread starter only1moore
- Start date
I think that's what the DOJ is supposed to investigate. Typically they might say that if this sale is allowed, then subscription prices must hold the line. They made that kind of demand when they approved the SiriusXM merger. But they're supposed to take the side of consumers in this process.
The offer is well in excess of yesterday’s price per share at the close of trading. Stockholders will take the money and run.
EU regulators?
Netflix-Warner Bros. Discovery: EU Antitrust Experts Say $83B Deal Unlikely To Be Blocked — But Conditions May Be Imposed On Merger
European Union anti-trust expect Netflix's proposed takeover of Warner Bros Discovery to be investigated, but the view is it's unlikely to be blocked.
deadline.com
That leaves DOJ.
I am one, and you're right. I am chomping at the bit.
Very true. But considering that one of the leading alternatives is the Trump-friendly Skydance/Paramount, those liberal Democrats might want to be careful about they wish for. I'm not a fan of this merger, but I do think that if WB is going to be acquired by another media company, Netflix is the lead bad of the three alternatives (the third is Comcast/NBC-Universal).
It doesn't matter. At one time, Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zukerberg were all enemies. Now they can do anything they want.
We all know the game. The whole world knows how to play. Sarandos knows who's ring to kiss. Then the deal will get done.
will any big budget blockbusters go straight to Netflix? will WB release Rush Hour 4 instead of Paramount?
Yeah, but...the good news is whatever ring-kissing Sarandos does, it doesn't affect news or latenight programming. Firing Seth Myers or muzzling CNN aren't plays here.
All Ted might need to do is tell Trump he can win a season of Squid Game (along with a hefty "contribution to the ballroom").
This current DOJ anti-trust division recently released a decision about Google's search business. Everyone was expecting them to order some kind of break-up, or sale. No such thing happened. So if this DOJ doesn't appear to be anti-business, I don't expect them to be harsh with Netflix. I wouldn't expect them to flatly rule against the sale. At worst, they might require the company to hold the line on consumer fees.
But here's a recent article about the Google decision:
The president himself doesn't have a role in the approval. The AG doesn't directly have a role. It's the anti-trust division of the DOJ, which is supposed to consist of career professionals, not political appointees. As we said, so far the only politician against the sale is Elizabeth Warren. I don't expect the president to agree with her.
deadline.com
Having said that, the president is likely to say something about the sale. It will likely by wrong. But he himself doesn't have the power to prevent the sale.
But here's a recent article about the Google decision:
The president himself doesn't have a role in the approval. The AG doesn't directly have a role. It's the anti-trust division of the DOJ, which is supposed to consist of career professionals, not political appointees. As we said, so far the only politician against the sale is Elizabeth Warren. I don't expect the president to agree with her.
Elizabeth Warren Calls Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal A “Nightmare,” Warns Of “Higher Subscription Prices And Fewer Choices”
Warren warned of higher prices for consumers and "fewer chocies"
deadline.com
Having said that, the president is likely to say something about the sale. It will likely by wrong. But he himself doesn't have the power to prevent the sale.
But hasn't this president, through issuance of executive orders or pressure tactics, effectively given himself a role in many regulatory situations into which other presidents would never think of inserting themselves? "Supposed to" is the key phrase here. Suppositions aren't turning out the way they used to these days.
Sure. It would be interesting to see how he would phrase such an order. A lot of them are being debated in the courts. So if he were to make an EO about a private business transaction where the executive has no role, it would likely go to court. Yes, he's trying to insert himself in areas where he has no role. Same with Carr. That's when they go to court. If any other president did this, there would be congressional oversight.
From a subscriber point of view:
The more mergers, the better. I get tired of managing multiple subscriptions. With Netflix and HBO Max combining into one, I can eliminate one more platform. I believe they will offer a lower subscription rate as both, at least lower than paying for them separately. There will still be competition from Amazon Prime, Peacock, Paramount+, AppleTV+, FAST, and others.
I also think we will see alot of new content, more than ever, when it comes to new original movies and series.
As far as higher prices, merger or no merger, they will still be going up ..
The more mergers, the better. I get tired of managing multiple subscriptions. With Netflix and HBO Max combining into one, I can eliminate one more platform. I believe they will offer a lower subscription rate as both, at least lower than paying for them separately. There will still be competition from Amazon Prime, Peacock, Paramount+, AppleTV+, FAST, and others.
I also think we will see alot of new content, more than ever, when it comes to new original movies and series.
As far as higher prices, merger or no merger, they will still be going up ..
I agree, I think we have a lot of consumers who agree. I just want to write one check. That's it. Netflix already has 200 million subscribers. They are by far the biggest streamer. You don't penalize a company for success. You penalize a company if they use that success and market position in ways to hurt consumers. That's the issue here. And I think consumers will win in this sale. Nrtflix knows that will be the issue. Although I probably won't subscribe to the new Netflix, just as I didn't subscribe to the old one. There's nothing in either company I need to see.
I don't know what kind of fantasy world this comes from but here on Earth, less competition always translates to less choice and higher prices.
Netfix will promise to hold the line on price hikes for a time during the regulatory hearings. Once that time expires, those rates are going up way more than they would in a more competitive landscape.
That is just what happened when Sirius and XM merged. They promised the FCC that the combined company wouldn't raise rates for a year, and it couldn't have been much more than 365 days before the first price hike was announced. They've continued since, sometimes twice in a calendar year. Of course, it is relatively easy to haggle with SiriusXM for a discount. Somehow, I don't think Netflix's customer service reps will be such pushovers.
The thing to understand is that your subscription to all of these things is voluntary. If it's too expensive, it's your right to cancel. There is nothing either Netflix or HBO has that is "required viewing." Even sports events. Nothing. There are no laws that prevent a new Netflix from emerging, or Apple using its assets to make its package more valuable. Currently, I don't subscribe to ANY of them.
The point is someone has to own these movie companies. Right now, the companies that are in the best position are the tech companies. Otherwise, you end up with bankruptcies, as we have in radio. So we just have to be willing to accept that these companies like WBD can't exist without someone else with more money coming in and buying their debt. That's the reality. If its not Netflix, it'll be someone else.
The deal was they could increase prices every time music royalties were increased. They've been very upfront with subscribers about that. Music royalties go up every three years. They pass those increased costs on to subscribers. Nothing wrong with that. Netflix deals with the Writers Guild. They signed a new contract. Writers all get more money. That gets passed on to subscribers. Nothing wrong with that.
And the NFL now MLB will increase those prices.
Michael Jordan testified yesterday that NASCAR is a monopoly. What does he think the NBA is? Or the NFL?
Michael Jordan testifies in NASCAR antitrust trial: 'I wasn't afraid'
Jordan, who owns the racing team 23XI with Denny Hamlin, refused to sign the league's new charter agreement
www.cbssports.com